Matt Richtman Wins LA Marathon, Ends 31-Year Drought

Matt Richtman from Illinois made history by becoming the first American to win the Los Angeles Marathon in 31 years, finishing with a personal best of 2:07:56. This year marked the marathon's 40th anniversary, featuring over 26,000 participants and a celebrated course from Dodger Stadium through various iconic Los Angeles neighborhoods. Richtman, a former Montana State cross-country athlete, won in only his second marathon outing. The women's race was won by Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu of Ethiopia with a time of 2:30:16. The marathon has traditionally seen dominance by African runners, particularly from Kenya and Ethiopia. The event also highlighted several legacy and first-time runners, with a special Marathon Chase event where elite women started ahead of men.