In 1983, the great and legendary Randy Newman wrote about his love for LA in the song “I Love LA.”
Roll down the window, put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys, baby
Don’t let the music stop
We’re gonna ride it till we just can’t ride it no more
From the South Bay to the Valley
From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody’s very happy
‘Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day
I love L.A.
And today, so do Nathan Martin and Priscah Cherono, except the temperatures were higher than expected for early March.
The LA Marathon made the news leading up to the event, with organizers offering a shortcut for those who may experience negative effects of the warm temperatures. The participants would receive a finisher’s medal for running just 18 miles. Apparently, few needed to take up the option.
As is witnessed more often over the past two years, the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon finished in an exciting final sprint and virtual tie on Sunday. American Nathan Martin dropped a big kick to the finish to break the tape. Meanwhile, Priscah Cherono of Kenya captured the women’s title with a dominating solo performance.
Men’s race
Martin clocked 2:11:18 for the win over Kenyan Michael Kimani Kamau, who is credited with the same time but was pipped at the line after leading for much of the race. Kamau had controlled much of the race and appeared on course for the win before Martin closed the gap in the final stretch toward the finish. The two athletes sprinted mano-a-mano over the final stretch, with Martin prevailing in one of the closest finishes in the race’s history.
Martin ran only 33 seconds off his personal best of 2:10:45, which he set in Duluth, MN in 2023, suggesting he is fitter than that consider the warm temperatures on the day.
Women’s race
Priscah Cherono delivered a commanding performance to take the win in 2:25:20. The veteran slowly and methodically gapped the field and ran alone through the latter stages of the race. She crossed the finish line well ahead of American Kellyn Taylor, who took second.
The race began at Dodger Stadium and followed the traditional point-to-point route through Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills before finishing in Century City. Despite warm conditions later in the morning, thousands of runners completed the 42.195-kilometre distance across the City of Angels.
The 45-year-old Cherono won the $10,000 “Marathon Chase” bonus; she crossed the finish line first overall, beating the elite men’s field despite them chasing with a 15-minute and 45-second head start.
Prize money:
1st Place (Men/Women): $6,000
2nd Place (Men/Women): $2,500
3rd Place (Men/Women): $1,500
Marathon Chase Bonus: $10,000 (awarded to the first overall finisher, accounting for a head start given to women)
Wheelchair Top 3: $2,500, $1,500, $1,000
Men
Nathan Martin – 2:11:18
Michael Kimani Kamau –Â 2:11:18
Enyew Nigat –Â 2:14:23
Josh Izewski –Â 2:14:43
Dominic Ngeno –Â 2:16:17
Marcelo Lagüera – 2:17:22
Athanas Kioko –Â 2:17:43
Will Norris –Â 2:18:22
David Nilsson –Â 2:19:33
Women
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
Atsede Baysa – 2:35:13
Women’s Wheelchair Results
Hannah Babalola, 2:17:52
LucÃa Montenegro, 2:20:05
Yeni Aide Hernandez Mendieta, 2:27:25
Men’s Wheelchair Results
Miguel Jimenez Vergara, 1:42:12
Luis Francisco Sanclemente, 1:45:32
Joshua Cassidy, 1:45:54
