Nathan Martin of Jackson, Mich., didn’t lead the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon for greater than a metre, however what a metre it was.
A viral clip circulating on social media confirmed Martin trailing Kenya’s Michael Kamau by a major margin with lower than 200 metres to go. Refusing to accept second place, Martin turned on the afterburners and completed arduous, catching Kamau on the line to win by simply 0.18 seconds—the closest end within the race’s 45-year historical past.
Loopy end on the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday as American Nathan Martin bested Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau by 00.01 seconds!
Martin caught as much as Kamau within the remaining stretch to win at 2 hours, 11 minutes, 16.50 seconds.
The gang went nuts—go USA!
(sullysandiego on TT) pic.twitter.com/NNfG2CLAOu
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 9, 2026
Martin’s victory will go down as one of many wildest current comebacks in marathon operating, however he could have had some assist from an surprising Kenyan fan. A video shared on X seems to point out a spectator waving a Kenyan flag stepping onto the course simply earlier than the 42-kilometre mark and briefly getting in Kamau’s manner.
Kamau, who knew Martin was closing quick behind him, tried to dodge the fan and was pressured off his line. The sudden obstruction brought on him to veer the fallacious manner, which pressured him to a whole cease earlier than correcting course. Together with his legs already drained late within the race, the interference was pricey. Moments later, Martin surged previous Kamau to take the win by 0.18 seconds.
Martin was credited with a time of two:11:18.50, whereas Kamau was awarded 2:11:18.68 earlier than collapsing from exhaustion.
What a wild ending to the LA marathon. My mother was in a position to catch what led to the cinematic ending. The chief went the fallacious manner. Girl impedes his path, runs to his left and forces him into the center of the fork + orange shirt waving him proper + motorcade goes proper on the fork. pic.twitter.com/t5HSJwrDPv
— Carlitos (@cptn_carlos) March 9, 2026
Though the clip made it appear as if Martin was shut, he mentioned the battle to catch Kamau truly started a lot earlier. Between kilometres 35 and 40, Martin upped the tempo to file his quickest 5K break up of the race, 15:08 (roughly 3:02/km), bringing Kamau again into his sight, which finally arrange the loopy comeback end.
In a post-race interview with Southern California sports activities reporter John W. Davis, Martin mentioned he was decided not to surrender, it doesn’t matter what. “I at all times problem myself to push no matter whether or not there’s any person to chase or I’m all on my own,” Martin mentioned. “I wish to know I completed giving all the pieces that I had.”
The win marks the second straight yr an American man has received the Los Angeles Marathon, following Matt Richtman’s historic 2025 victory, when he grew to become the primary American man to win in 31 years.
Martin, 36, balances skilled operating along with his job as head cross-country and observe coach at Jackson Excessive College in Michigan. He trains totally on his personal and works just about with U.S. marathon guru James McKirdy.
Operating by the road…
We’re very happy with Nathan. The autumn season wasn’t what we wished due to Covid… however this was a exceptional step ahead.
0.18 second victory. pic.twitter.com/Y7yG6eX8Mb
— McKirdy Skilled (@McKirdyTrained) March 8, 2026
McKirdy praised Martin’s comeback victory on X, saying he was happy with his athlete for operating arduous by the end line, one thing coaches at all times emphasize early in a runner’s profession.
The victory additionally serves as redemption for Martin after a troublesome fall marathon season, when a bout of COVID‑19 simply weeks earlier than the California Worldwide Marathon derailed his race objectives.
Within the ladies’s race, Kenya’s Priscah Cherono, 45, led from the gun and received in 2:25:18.
For full outcomes from the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon, see right here.