LA Marathon Ends in Dramatic Photo Finish

The 41st annual race saw the closest finish in event history.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The 41st Los Angeles Marathon took place on Sunday, with the race starting at Dodger Stadium and ending in a dramatic photo finish in Century City. American runner Nathan Martin narrowly edged out Michael Kimani Kamau to claim the men's title, while Prisca Cherono won the women's race.

Why it matters

The LA Marathon is one of the most prestigious running events in the United States, drawing elite athletes from around the world. The close finish this year highlights the competitive nature of the race and the high level of talent among the participants.

The details

Runners began the race at Dodger Stadium, as has been the case since 2010, and trekked 26.2 miles to Century City at Santa Monica Blvd. and Avenue of the Stars. The race previously ran from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica in the 'Stadium to the Sea' course, but changed due to 'the dramatically increased costs quoted by the city of Santa Monica.' The McCourt Foundation, a non-profit focused on curing neurological diseases run by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, organizes the event annually.

  • The 41st Los Angeles Marathon took place on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • Nathan Martin completed the race in 2:11:16.
  • Prisca Cherono won the women's race with a time of 2:25:20.

The players

Nathan Martin

The American runner who narrowly won the men's title at the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon.

Michael Kimani Kamau

The runner-up in the men's race at the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon, finishing just behind Nathan Martin.

Prisca Cherono

The winner of the women's race at the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:25:20.

Frank McCourt

The former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers who now runs the McCourt Foundation, the non-profit organization that organizes the annual Los Angeles Marathon.

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What they’re saying

“We would love to see the marathon start at Dodger Stadium and finish at the ocean. From the stadium to the sea... The vision is to incorporate the great icons of L.A. — Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the ocean — so that people from all over the world want to come and run a race that is totally unique. We want this to be a once in a lifetime race you'll never forget.”

— Frank McCourt, Founder, McCourt Foundation

What’s next

The McCourt Foundation is exploring ways to bring the marathon back to its original 'Stadium to the Sea' course, which would see runners finish at the Pacific Ocean.

The takeaway

The close finish at the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon underscores the event's status as one of the premier running competitions in the United States, attracting top talent from around the world to compete on the streets of LA.