More than 27,000 runners hit the pavement for the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday.
Here’s a rundown of the LA Marathon results, straight from the podium.
LA Marathon times and top runners
A stunning photo finish marked the event’s closest-ever moment at the finish line as American Nathan Martin summoned a powerful finishing kick to chase down Kenyan Michael Kamau in an unforgettable finish line moment in Century City.
In the final moments of the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon, the outcome came down to the very last steps. Michael Kimani Kamau was leading but fell at the finish line, just as Nathan Martin was closing in, making it the closest finish in this marathon’s history.
Men’s Pro podium:
- First place: Nathan Martin | Time: 2:11:17 | Pace: 5:00 per mile
- Second place: Michael Kimani Kamau | Time: 2:11:17 | Pace: 5:00 per mile
- Third place: Enyew Nigat | Time: 2:14:13 | Pace: 5:07 per mile
Martin, a 36-year-old teacher and track coach from Three River, Michigan, is the second American to win the LA Marathon since 1994, joining 2025 winner, Matt Richtman.
His finish was one for the books; he drove past Kamau to win by a jaw-dropping -00:01.
“Martin’s -00:01 margin of victory is the closest in LA Marathon history, eclipsing the -00:07 mark set by 2019 men’s champion Elisha Barno,” event organizers posted on X.
Priscah Cherono of Kenya is the first woman to cross the finish line at the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon. Organizers say she led from mile 1 to mile 26 and finished with an unofficial time of 2:25:18.31, which comes only one second short of her personal best.
Women’s Pro podium:
- First place: Priscah Cherono | Time: 2:25:19 | Pace: 5:33 per mile
- Second place: Kellyn Taylor | Time: 2:27:36 | Pace: 5:38 per mile
- Third place: Antonina Kwambai | Time: 2:28:50 | Pace: 5:41 per mile
Cherono, a former Olympian and 45-year-old mother of three who trains in Colorado Springs, led the race from Mile 1 to Mile 26.2 to claim her victory. Organizers said this is her first title in only her second professional marathon.
Men’s Wheelchair results:
- First place: Miguel Jimenez Vergara | Time: 1:42:10 | Pace: 3:54 per mile
- Second place: Luis Francisco Sanclemente | Time 1:45:32 | Pace: 4:01 per mile
- Third place: Joshua Cassidy | Time: 1:45:54 | Pace: 4:02 per mile
Women’s Wheelchair results:
- First place: Hannah Babalola | Time: 2:17:50 | Pace: 5:15 per mile
- Second place: Lucia Montenegro | Time 2:20:03 | Pace: 5:20 per mile
- Third place: Yeni Aide Hernandez Mendieta | Time: 2:27:23 | Pace: 5:37 per mile
More LA Marathon, by the numbers
According to LA Marathon organizers, these fun stats also defined the 2026 race:
- For more than 9,100 LA Marathon participants — or 41% of runners in the race — the 2026 edition of the marathon was their first-ever marathon.
- A total of 86 “legacy athletes” — runners who have run all 41 LA Marathons, including Sunday’s race — ran the 2026 LA Marathon.
- There were 200 run clubs from around the world represented at the 2026 LA Marathon.
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
