Nathan Martin Wins 2026 LA Marathon
Nathan Martin LA Marathon winner 2026
American runner Nathan Martin secured a historic victory at the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026, winning the men’s elite division in the closest finish the event has ever recorded. Martin, a 36-year-old substitute teacher and coach from Jackson, Michigan, completed the 26.2-mile course in an unofficial time of 2:11:18, edging out Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau by a mere 0.01 seconds. The dramatic conclusion saw Kamau leading for the vast majority of the final stretch on Santa Monica Boulevard before Martin executed a miraculous comeback in the final stride. As the two crossed the finish line in a dead heat, Kamau collapsed from exhaustion and was subsequently taken away on a stretcher for medical evaluation, while Martin remained standing to celebrate the second consecutive win for an American man in Los Angeles. This milestone follows Matt Richtman’s 2025 victory and marks Martin’s legacy as the fastest U.S.-born Black marathoner, a title he previously solidified with a 2:10:45 personal best.
The women’s elite division was dominated by 45-year-old Priscah Cherono of Kenya, who led the race from start to finish to post an unofficial time of 2:25:20. Cherono, a mother of three and former Olympic 5,000-meter runner, benefited from the “Marathon Chase” format, which gave the elite women a 15-minute and 45-second head start over the elite men. By crossing the finish line first among all competitors, Cherono secured a $10,000 overall winner bonus in addition to her division prize. American Kellyn Taylor finished second in the women’s field with a time of 2:27:37, more than two minutes behind the leader. Cherono’s steady, disciplined performance stood in stark contrast to the chaotic sprint finish in the men’s race, proving that her transition to long-distance running remains formidable despite being one of the older competitors in the elite field.
The 2026 race featured a capacity field of more than 27,000 participants who faced challenging conditions as temperatures rose into the low 80s by midday. Due to the heat, race organizers implemented a unique safety protocol, allowing any runner who completed at least 18 miles of the course—starting at Dodger Stadium and ending in Century City—to receive a finisher’s medal. This adjustment was designed to prevent heat-related medical emergencies during the final eight miles of the trek. Despite the environmental hurdles, the atmosphere in Century City remained electric as fans witnessed the unprecedented photo finish between Martin and Kamau. The event’s success highlights the ongoing resurgence of American distance running on the global stage, especially as domestic athletes like Martin and last year’s winner Matthew Richtman continue to challenge the traditional dominance of East African runners in major city marathons.
Beyond the elite results, the wheelchair division saw victories from American Miguel Jimenez Vergara in the men’s race with a time of 1:42:12 and Nigerian athlete Hannan Babalola in the women’s race at 1:33:42, marking Babalola’s third title in Los Angeles. The 2026 marathon serves as a critical tune-up for many athletes eyeing the upcoming international season, including those monitoring Jayson Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics or the unveiling of the UFC White House card. For local residents and participants seeking their individual official chip times, the race portal is expected to certify all results within the next 48 hours. As Nathan Martin returns to his classroom in Michigan, his “miraculous comeback” on the streets of LA will likely be remembered as one of the most resilient performances in the history of American athletics.
