LA Marathon 2026: Nathan Martin Makes History as First African-American Winner, Cherono Dominates at 45
The 41st ASICS Los Angeles Marathon is now fully in the record books following Sunday, March 8, and the story only gets bigger with every new detail that emerges. Nathan Martin did not just win the closest finish in race history — he became the first African-American runner to break the tape in the LA Marathon's 41-year history.
Nathan Martin Makes LA Marathon History: First African-American Winner
For the first time in the race's 41-year history, an African-American runner broke the finish line tape. Martin, a 36-year-old cross-country coach from Michigan, pulled off a last-second sprint to overtake Kenyan Michael Kamau, who was a literal step away from victory before Martin overtook him at the finish line on Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City.
Martin trailed from the start at Dodger Stadium and past such landmarks as the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills before storming down the home stretch. "I was digging pretty deep," he said after crossing the line.
Martin joins 2025 winner Matthew Richtman as the only American men ever to win the LA Marathon — making it back-to-back American victories for the first time in the race's modern era. He completed the 26.2-mile course in 2:11:16.50, barely edging Kamau who was credited with the exact same time.
Full Men's Results: LA Marathon 2026
The complete men's top finishers are: Nathan Martin 2:11:18, Michael Kimani Kamau 2:11:18, Enyew Nigat 2:14:23, Josh Izewski 2:14:43, Dominic Ngeno 2:16:17, Marcelo Lagüera 2:17:22, Athanas Kioko 2:17:43, Will Norris 2:18:22, and David Nilsson 2:19:33.
Priscah Cherono Dominates Women's Race Wire-to-Wire at Age 45
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 in only her second professional marathon. Her additional victory as the first overall finisher — accounting for the women's head start — earned her the $10,000 Marathon Chase bonus, fittingly completed on International Women's Day.
Cherono represented Kenya in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, stepped away from the sport around the pandemic, then mounted an unlikely comeback that culminated in Sunday's commanding performance through the streets of Los Angeles.
Full Women's Results: LA Marathon 2026
The complete women's top finishers are: Priscah Cherono 2:25:20, Kellyn Taylor 2:27:37, Antonina Kwambai 2:28:50, Alem Nigus Tsadik 2:28:53, Almaz Kebebe 2:29:32, Vicoty Chepngeno 2:29:56, Kolole Tefera 2:31:55, Savannah Berry 2:34:27, Makenna Myler 2:35:03, and Atsede Baysa 2:35:13.
Wheelchair Division, Prize Money, and Race Conditions
In the wheelchair division, Hannah Babalola won the women's race in 2:17:52 — her third LA Marathon title — while Miguel Jimenez Vergara took the men's title in 1:42:12. First-place prize money was $6,000 for both men's and women's divisions, with $2,500 for second and $1,500 for third, plus the $10,000 Marathon Chase bonus claimed by Cherono.
Due to the heat, runners were eligible to receive medals if they completed at least 18 miles of the marathon. The race started at Dodger Stadium and passed through Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Hollywood Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Olvera Street, and Sunset Strip before finishing on Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City.
