The 2026 Los Angeles Marathon produced a result that felt more like a Hollywood script than a marathon. American runner Nathan Martin beat Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau by 0.01 seconds when he clocked 2:11:17 to win Sunday’s race.
The finish-and-you-miss-it quickly turned into a viral moment online. Videos of the chaotic final stretch, sprint to the line and Kamau’s costly late mishap have been widely shared, turning the race into one of the most talked about marathon finishes of the year.
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Movie Finale in Century City! American Nathan Martin (1.80m, 63kg) came back with an impressive sprint to overtake Michael Kamau in the final metres. Elite marathon runner and American record holder among African-American athletes #Marathon #Athletics pic.twitter.com/GOwxEPXlqM— Nelson Sandoval (@nelsonsando007) March 8, 2026
“I made a real move five miles in when I saw no one else was picking up the pace,” Martin said after the race. “I decided I had to push.
“With a mile and a half to go, I saw the leader and with 800 meters to go I thought, ‘I’m going to catch him.’
The victory also had historical significance. Martin became the first African-American winner of the Los Angeles Marathon. The 36-year-old balances elite running with his work as a high school cross country coach and substitute teacher, making this moment even more special.
Martin is already an important name in American distance running. His personal best of 2:10:45 from the 2023 Grandmother’s Marathon made him the fastest US-born black marathoner in history. He is also the first U.S.-born black runner to win a major city marathon since Ted Corbitt accomplished the feat in the 1950s and 1960s, according to the National Black Marathoners Association.
NATHAN MARTIN EDGES MICHAEL KAMAU
For most of the race, Kamau looked firmly in command and appeared to be heading for victory. But the final moments brought an unexpected twist that ultimately shaped the result.
With about 300 meters to go, Kamau briefly went off course after following the lead column at a junction. A now-viral video shows escort vehicles turning onto the exit lane, with Kamau mistakenly following them for several seconds.
A spectator carrying a Kenyan flag could be seen nearby as Kamau drove into the wrong lane before being alerted to the mistake by a cyclist. The Kenyan runner had to stop, turn around and rejoin the track – losing precious seconds in the process.
In a marathon decided by 0.01 seconds, these few moments proved decisive.
Sensing his chance, Martin launched the final wave in the final stretch and crossed the line just ahead of Kamau in a thrilling sprint finish that had the crowd booing.
The victory also came with a considerable reward. Martin took home US$25,000 for first place, while Kamau won US$10,000 for second place.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
10 March 2026 09:32 IST
