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Nathan Martin Makes History With the Closest Finish in LA Marathon History

Nathan Martin won the LA Marathon in a thrilling photo finish, beating Kenya's Michael Kimani Kamau by 0.01 seconds to make race history.
By 
March 9, 2026
1 mins read
Nathan Martin

On Sunday morning, American distance runner Nathan Martin pulled off an incredible come-from-behind victory to win the men’s division of the 41st Los Angeles Marathon, in what race organizers are officially calling the closest finish in the event’s history. Crossing the finish line in Century City in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 16 seconds, Martin edged out Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau by an astonishing 0.01 seconds.

For the better part of two hours, the 26.2-mile race looked like it belonged to Kamau, who had taken a commanding lead and appeared to be in full control as the runners approached the final stretch. However, Martin refused to settle for second place.

Trailing by a significant margin with just a few miles left, the 36-year-old dug deep and found another gear. As the finish line approached, Martin surged past Kamau in a dead sprint. In a last-ditch effort to secure the victory, Kamau dramatically dove for the tape but ultimately fell short, collapsing from exhaustion as Martin stormed past him to claim the title.

This historic win adds yet another incredible milestone to Martin’s already impressive resume. Beyond being an elite athlete, the Jackson, Michigan native is a dedicated substitute teacher and high school cross-country coach. He is already a prominent figure in the running community, famously holding the record as the fastest U.S.-born Black marathoner, a title he claimed in 2020 by shattering a record that had stood for over four decades.

After the race, Martin revealed that his winning strategy involved making a calculated push about five miles out when he noticed the pace stalling, ultimately setting the stage for his cinematic final sprint.

While the men’s race was a nail-biting thriller, the women’s competition was a masterclass in absolute dominance. Kenya’s Priscah Cherono, a 45-year-old mother of three and former Olympian, controlled the race from the opening mile. She delivered a wire-to-wire performance, crossing the finish line in 2:25:18, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of the runner-up and leaving no question about her decisive victory.

Congratulations to Nathan Martin and Priscah Cherono.

Photo Credit: X/LAMarathon