American Nathan Martin, 36, won the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon in what race officials described as the closest finish in the event's history, edging Kenya's Michael Kamau by just seconds after a dramatic final stretch through downtown LA. The victory marked Martin's biggest career win and a breakthrough moment for the veteran marathoner, who has spent over a decade grinding through the professional road racing circuit.
The race unfolded under warm conditions that forced both organisers and athletes to adjust their approach. Safety modifications were implemented due to higher-than-usual temperatures, but Martin and Kamau pushed through, running side by side for much of the second half before Martin found a decisive kick in the final 400 metres. The finish was so close that officials needed photo review to confirm the result, adding a layer of theatre that the LA Marathon has not often produced.
In the women's race, Kenyan Priscah Cherono took the win with an unofficial time of 2:25:18, running a controlled and patient race that rewarded her negative split strategy. Cherono moved into the lead just past the 30-kilometre mark and steadily pulled away from the field over the final 12 kilometres, never appearing under genuine threat once she had established her advantage.
For Martin, the win represents validation after years of consistent but unspectacular results at the marathon distance. At 36, he is part of a growing cohort of American marathoners who have found their best form in their mid-to-late thirties, benefiting from accumulated mileage and race experience. The result also underscores the continued growth of the LA Marathon as a destination for competitive domestic fields, even as it competes for attention with the spring majors in Boston and London later this month.