Nathan Martin of the United States won the men’s race at the 2026 LA Marathon, and Priscah Cherono of Kenya won the women’s race.

Who won LA Marathon 2026?

Quick Scoop

  • Men’s winner: Nathan Martin (USA), winning in the closest finish in LA Marathon history, edging Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau by about 0.01–0.18 seconds in a dramatic last‑second sprint.
  • Women’s winner: Priscah Cherono (Kenya), who led from the early miles and finished around 2:25, earning an additional winner’s bonus.
  • Race date & edition: 41st Los Angeles Marathon, held in early March 2026, with about 27,000 runners.
  • Finish style: “Photo finish” on Santa Monica Boulevard, widely described as the closest finish in the race’s history.

Key Facts & Times

  • Nathan Martin’s winning time was about 2:11:16–2:11:18 for the full 26.2 miles.
  • Michael Kimani Kamau (Kenya) finished just a fraction of a second behind him.
  • Priscah Cherono’s winning time was reported around 2:25:18, only a few seconds off her personal best.

Here is a quick results snapshot in table form:

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Category Winner Country Approx. Time Notable Detail
Men’s overall Nathan Martin USA ~2:11:16–2:11:18 Won by ~0.01–0.18 seconds, closest finish ever.
Men’s runner‑up Michael Kimani Kamau Kenya Fraction of a second behind. Dove at the line, just missed the win.
Women’s overall Priscah Cherono Kenya ~2:25:18 Front‑runner from early on, earned bonus as overall first finisher.

Mini Story: How the Finish Unfolded

Nathan Martin spent the late miles chasing Kamau, who appeared to have the race won as they came down Santa Monica Boulevard. In the final strides, Martin surged, while Kamau stretched and even dove for the tape, but fell just short as Martin crossed first by a razor‑thin margin.

On the women’s side, Priscah Cherono took control early and never really gave it up, running largely alone at the front and finishing well ahead of the chase pack, just a few seconds off her lifetime best over the distance.

Why This Was a Big Deal

  • It was the closest finish in LA Marathon history, turning the final meters into a viral highlight.
  • Martin became the second straight American man to win the LA Marathon, following Matthew Richtman’s 2025 victory.
  • The women’s race showcased veteran excellence, with Cherono, a 2008 Olympian, dominating at age 45.

TL;DR:
Nathan Martin (USA) won the 2026 LA Marathon men’s race in a historic photo finish, and Priscah Cherono (Kenya) won the women’s race with a commanding wire‑to‑wire performance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.