Dramatic LA Marathon Finish Marred by Possible Misdirection

Video shows second-place finisher may have briefly gone the wrong way, raising safety concerns

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A dramatic finish at the Los Angeles Marathon is drawing worldwide attention after new video surfaced showing the runner who finished second, Michael Kamau, may have briefly gone the wrong direction just before the finish line. Kamau was leading at the time but had to dodge a spectator who stepped onto the course, and the video appears to show him following a motorcycle briefly in the wrong direction before turning back toward the finish. Nathan Martin ended up winning the race by just one-hundredth of a second in a photo finish.

Why it matters

The incident raises questions about course security and safety at major marathons, where elite runners train intensely and compete for significant prize money. While the marathon organizers say no protests were filed and the results stand, the video has sparked debate over whether Kamau's apparent misdirection cost him the race victory.

The details

Spectators who recorded the moment said the misdirection likely cost Kamau the race and raised safety concerns about course security. Marathon officials told FOX 11 no protests were filed, the results stand, and vehicles did not make a wrong turn during the event. However, the video footage shows Kamau briefly following a motorcycle in the wrong direction before turning back, potentially costing him crucial seconds in the photo finish.

  • The race ended on Sunday, March 10, 2026.
  • The incident occurred about 200 meters from the finish line.

The players

Michael Kamau

The runner who finished second in the LA Marathon, but may have briefly gone the wrong direction near the end of the race.

Nathan Martin

The runner who won the LA Marathon in a photo finish, beating Kamau by one-hundredth of a second.

Frank Robledo

A spectator who recorded video of the dramatic finish and the apparent misdirection of Kamau.

Carmen Maldonado

A spectator who also recorded video of the dramatic finish and the apparent misdirection of Kamau.

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What they’re saying

“That was a crazy ending. She totally messed him up. You can see in the video that she goes left and forces him to go to the right.”

— Frank Robledo, Spectator (FOX 11)

“Second place probably saw he took that right turn. As a second-place runner, you're thinking, 'I can probably get this.'”

— Carmen Maldonado, Spectator (FOX 11)

“Those seconds messed him up. He had to backtrack and turn around.”

— Frank Robledo, Spectator (FOX 11)

What’s next

Marathon officials said they will review how future issues of spectators interfering with the course can be avoided as part of their post-race discussions.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense competition and high stakes of elite marathon racing, where even brief moments of misdirection or interference can potentially cost runners a victory. It also raises important questions about course security and safety at major marathons, which organizers will need to address to ensure the fairness and integrity of these events.