Jessica McClain

Jessica McClain (née Tonn born February 15, 1992) is an American middle-distance and long-distance runner. As a Stanford Cardinal, Jess was a seven-time NCAA Division I All-American cross country and Track and field runner.

Jessica McClain

McClain after placing fourth in the 2024 United States Olympic trials held in Orlando, Florida.
Personal information
Birth name	Jessica Tonn
Full name	Jessica McClain
Nationality	United States
Born	(1992-02-15) February 15, 1992 (age 33) Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Sport
Sport	Track, long-distance running
Event(s)	1500 meters, mile, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters
College team	Stanford
Club	Brooks Beast Seattle
Turned pro	2015
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	1500 meters: 4:13.75 (2019)[1] 5000 meters: 15:09.50 (2025)[1] 10,000 meters: 30:59.71 (2025)[1] Marathon: 2:22:43 (2025)[1]

High school

Tonn qualified for four years for Foot Locker Cross Country Championships for Xavier College Preparatory (Arizona). Jessica won 14 individual state titles, two in cross country and 12 in Track and field in Arizona Interscholastic Association.

NCAA

Tonn graduated BA and MA from Stanford. Tonn won 2015 Pac-12 Conference 10,000 meters in 34:00. As a Stanford Cardinal, Jessica Tonn was a seven-time NCAA Division I All-American.

Professional

Jessica Tonn signed with Brooks in November 2015. That contract ended in 2018 and she began competing unattached.^[2][3][4]

Jessica ran a 1500m in 4:20.89 at Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford (USA) 01.05.2016. Jessica ran a 5000m in 15:30.34 at Hoka One One held at Occidental College in Los Angeles (USA) 20.05.2016. Jessica ran a 1500m in 4:16 in Seattle at Brooks PR meet on June 18, 2016.

Jessica placed second in 15:38.46 for 5000 meters on April 14, 2017, at Mt SAC Relays.^[5]

Jessica won a 10,000m in 31:54.83 at Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford (USA) 03.05.2018.

In January 2019, Tonn left Seattle and Beast Track Club to coach Arizona State Sun Devils student-athletes. In November 2019, she placed second at the 2019 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K / USATF 5K Championships in New York, finishing in 15:44, a mere second behind winner Shannon Rowbury.

In March 2024, she announced that she had signed a new contract with Brooks.^[4]

Marathon running

On June 17, 2023, McClain earned a qualifying position for the 2024 United States Olympic trials by running 2:29:25 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota.

On February 3, 2024, McClain placed fourth in the Olympic Marathon Trials held in Orlando, Florida, with a 2:25:46, a personal best by nearly four minutes. She was the alternate for the Paris Olympics.^[6]

On April 21, 2025, Jessica finished as the 1st American and 7th overall at the 2025 Boston Marathon, running an 2:22:43.^[7]

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing the  United States
2024	2024 United States Olympic trials	Orlando, Florida	4th	Marathon	2:25:46
2019	NACAC Cross Country Championships	Port of Spain, Trinidad	3rd	10 km	36:40
USA Championships
2019	USATF National Cross Country Championships	Tallahassee, Florida	16th	10 km	34:24[8]
2018	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Des Moines, Iowa	11th	10,000 m	32:47.29[9]
2017	USATF Faxon Law New Haven Road Race	New Haven, Connecticut	7th	20 km	68:55[10]
	USATF Peachtree Road Race 10 km	Atlanta Georgia	4th	10 km	33:16[11]
	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento, California	12th	5000 m	15:32.34[12]
2016	USA Olympic Trials & Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Eugene, Oregon	DNS[13]	5000 m	[14]
2015	USA Club Cross Country Championships	San Francisco, California	10th	6 km	20:14[15]
	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Eugene, Oregon	17th	5000 m	16:02.71[16]
2014	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento, California	9th	5000 m	15:48.31[17]