LOS ANGELES — Matt Richtman won the 40th annual Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first American man to take the title in 31 years.
Achieving a personal milestone, he completed the course starting at Dodger Stadium and passing through various LA neighborhoods in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 56 seconds before ending in Century City.
Athanas Kioko of Kenya was second in 2:10.55. Moses Kurgat of Kenya took third in 2:13.13.
It was just Richtman’s second marathon, following his debut last fall at the Twin Cities Marathon with a time of 2:10.47 to finish fourth.
“Entering the marathon without a specific strategy, Richtman acknowledged the challenges of the race and decided to stay with the leading group until the halfway mark. Feeling strong, he took the lead and maintained it uncontested,” Richtman reflected on his performance.
Richtman, of Elburn, Illinois, was a member of the Montana State cross-country team, earning All-America honors as a junior in 2022-23.
American Paul Pilkington won the 1994 edition in 2:12.13.
In the women’s race, Tejinesh Tulu of Ethiopia took the title in 2:30.16.
Following closely behind, Antonina Kwambai of Kenya finished in second place with a time of 2:30.19. Savannah Berry from Orem, Utah, secured the third position in 2:30.31, a significant improvement from her previous competition at the U.S. Olympic trials where she finished 12th.
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