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Americans finish first, third as 26,000 compete in milestone 40th LA Marathon

The landmark 40th Los Angeles Marathon filled the city’s streets with a sold-out field of 26,000-plus runners on Sunday, March 16.

Men’s winner Matthew Richtman, 25, a cross country runner at Montana State and an Illinois native, snagged a wide lead early on and stunningly maintained his margin deep into the event.

Logging a time of 2:07:56, the second-fastest in event history, upstart Richtman became the first American to win the L.A. race since 1994 — in only his second marathon.

Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Tulu won the women’s event in 2:30:16.

American Savannah Berry, 28, who grew up in Bakersfield and lives in Orem, Utah, led early as the women set a deliberate early pace with a 6:01 first mile. She hung with the lead pack of women throughout the morning, fighting to stay out front until late in the race, but she fell off the pace in the final yards. She wound up in third place.

At 6:30 a.m., with the air crisp and cool at 46 degrees — ideal for marathon running, the wheelchair division kicked off the race, followed by the hand crank racers at 6:35 a.m. and the women’s elite field at 6:44 a.m. The elite men’s field hit the pavement at 7 a.m.

The first winner of the day: Francisco Sanclemente of Colombia won the wheelchair race with a time of 1:38:10, his third straight LA Marathon triumph. American Miguel Vergara was second in 1:43:32.

Just before dawn on Sunday, thousands of athletes gathered at Dodger Stadium, the massive starting point. Some stretched, adjusting their bibs, while others snuck in a quick nap, before taking on the 26.2-mile journey ahead.

Related: ‘A balm to my spirit’: LA Marathon is post-fire therapy for LA-area’s wildfire survivors

This year marks the 40th edition of the LA Marathon, a milestone for one of the country’s four largest marathons and a fixture among the world’s top 10. With more than 26,000 runners from all 50 states and 70 countries, this year’s event comes close to its all-time participation record of 27,150 set in 2020.

The main race kicked off at 7 a.m. and took massive waves of runners on a winding route through some of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks, from Los Angeles City Hall and Little Tokyo to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and Historic Route 66, before finishing at the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.

Runners spanned all ages and experience levels, from middle schoolers to 90-year-olds. While 40% were first-time marathoners chasing personal milestones, others were seasoned athletes striving for new records. Some ran to support a cause, raise awareness or as a form of personal therapy.

Yet, they are all united by a single goal: crossing the finish line.

Marcus Kowal took the challenge a step further. The 47-year-old MMA fighter from Hawthorne ran barefoot after completing a hip replacement recently, a symbolic effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving — a cause deeply personal to him since losing his 15-month-old son, Liam, to a drunk driver in 2016.

“If one example draws attention, and that’s all we need to do in order to make the legal BAC limit 0.05 in California, and then in the rest of the United States as well,” he said.

For Kowal, the race wasn’t about speed but resilience. “It’s not about competing, it’s about completing,” he said. He hoped to inspire others recovering from surgeries or setbacks with his action.

“There’s a lot of people that will say that you shouldn’t, it’s not good for you,” he said. “You know, we can do a lot more than we think that we can.”

And once he crosses the finish line? “I look forward to putting my feet in a hot bath afterwards. I’m looking forward to a big meal. I’m looking forward to seeing my wife and my children, and I’m looking forward to giving everyone that’s been a part of this journey…a hug and some pickle juice.”

Related: 10 things to know about the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon

For a special group known as the Legacy Runners, who haven’t missed a single LA Marathon since its inception in 1986, participation was about tradition, resilience and a commitment they refuse to break.

Cliff Housego, 76, running is deeply personal. His father, an alcoholic, died at just 48 years old, a loss that shaped Housego’s determination to live long enough to see his children’s children. He took up running at 36, and now, 40 years later, after two divorces, multiple jobs, and the joy of welcoming three grandchildren and a great-grandson, he’s still going strong.

“There is that sense of accomplishment,” said Housego, who’s a competitive dancer and a volunteer patrol officer with the City of Ventura Police Department . “Wow, if I can do this, I can do anything.”

This year, medical issues forced him to walk most of the race—six hours and 44 minutes in total—but that didn’t stop him. “Everyone is a blessing,” he said, a sentiment perhaps shared by his fellow Legacy Runners, the youngest of whom is 55 and the oldest 87.

The group has a tradition of waiting for every last member to finish before leaving the race. Housego estimates that will be sometime between 8 and 9 p.m.

Being part of this journey for 40 years, he said, “is a sincere sense of accomplishment.”

Mila Cangelosi stood on the sidelines, cheering as the Legacy Runners passed by. She was there to support her husband, Paul Brestyanszky, 82, who has been running the LA Marathon since 1986 and hasn’t missed a race in its four-decade history.

“My husband was one of the first people that was involved in the founding of the marathon running,” she said. “He’s been running for 40 years in a row. He hasn’t missed one at all. He loves it so much.”

Beaming with pride, she held up a handmade sign featuring his picture. “I made this sign for him when I married him 20 years ago,” she said, pointing to the words: “Go! 40th Year LA Marathon ‘Legacy Runner.’”

Paul Brestyanszky’s love for the marathon runs deep. About five years ago, he suffered a fall just a month before the marathon–but skipping the race was never an option. Instead, he completed all 26.2 miles on crutches, his wife said.

By 9:15 a.m., Cangelosi received an update: her husband just passed mile 7. “I’m just really proud of him,” she said.

Representing scores of worthy causes — as well as more personal sentiments such as “happy birthday Mom!” — runners checked their watches, hammed it up for TV cameras and threw up peace signs as they sprinted past the starting line.

There was plenty of whimsy on display, too. Among the runners were two bananas, a giant strawberry, one Tigger, one Batman, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike and about a half-dozen Elvises.

Runners were swagged out in Hawaiian prints, Lakers jerseys, tiny swimsuits, neon-bright colors and more. Myriad shirts bore the messages of countless charities, from Parkinson’s research to fighting Cancer to blood donation to wildfire relief, all printed in bold letters and logos.

One runner inspired cheers of “Go, Brenda!” from strangers on the course. They were reading the name written in red on her black beanie. She grinned and waved.

Meanwhile, at the finish line in Century City, anticipation builds as spectators gather, scanning the horizon for their loved ones. Many people waved handmade signs, and oversized blow-up cutouts of runners’ faces.

As each runner crossed the finish line, dedicated volunteers greeted them with water bottles and heartfelt congratulations.

Among the early finishers was Savannah Berry, 28. She was warmly embraced by her mom, Lenaya Berry, who held a handmade sign that says “Anything is possible today. Run with your heart. Go Savannah.”

“I’m so proud of her. She’s been doing so good,” Lenaya Berry said. “She went from being in fourth grade running just track at her elementary school to high school then college scholarship. And now she is running professionally. She’s been in the Olympic trails twice, and she’s been running all over and doing wonderful. We are super proud. We travel as much as we can to watch her.”

At the finish line, José Muñoz, 50, of Downey, reflected on his journey in the hand crank division. He said he joined the race simply because “I had to.”

“I used to run before, but I got injured four years ago,” he said. “I just really wanted something to do.”

Another runner, Joshua Cheesin-Yudin from Seattle stood out with a bib adorned with the names of individuals who had passed away prematurely–some were his middle school classmates, others family members and friends. He said that having their names written on his bib “gives you a little bit strength.”

Inspired by a friend’s encouragement, Chessin-Yudin took up marathon running as a way to maintain both mental and physical well-being.

The men’s and women’s winners each received $10,000, the second-place finishers $5,000 and third-place finishers $3,500. The men’s and women’s wheelchair winners will each receive $2,500.

The men’s race has been won by a Kenyan 22 times since 1999, including 2024 when Dominic Ngeno won. Ethiopians won the other four times. A U.S. runner last won in 1994.

African women have won 12 of the last 15 races, including in 2024 when Kenyan Stacy Ndiwa won for the second consecutive year. Like with the men, a U.S. runner last won in 1994.

Organizers said Sunday’s race was dedicated to the first responders who worked for weeks to put out January’s deadly wildfires in L.A. County.

“It’s the healing of the city,” LA Marathon television broadcaster Toni Reavis said. “The marathon has always shown up on the calendar at just the right time to help bind the city when it’s had floods, public uprising after the Rodney King incident in 1992, the fires this year. This is a chance for LA to come together and dispose of all the differences that people have and be drawn together by our common humanity. The marathon does that like nothing else.”

Near the start line, student runners from Students Run LA squeezed in some last-minute warm-ups before taking off into the massive throng clad in high-profile neon-green jerseys.

Some, as young as seventh graders, arrived as early as 5:30 a.m., many traveling by school bus to get to the start line.

Among them was Allison Guevara, 13, a student at L.A. Academy, who said she joined SRLA for a fresh start and to honor her mother. “My mom did the marathon, and she wanted me to do it for her,” Guevara said.

Her classmate, Cacrice Bragg, 14, also decided to take on the challenge.“I thought it would be a fun opportunity to try something new,” Bragg said.

The two planned to push through to the finish, no matter what.

“When you sign up, there’s no going back,” Guevara said.

Several firefighters who fought wildfires mere weeks ago were among those participating in the 26-mile, 385-yard race.

U.S. Forest Service Capt. Jerry Garcia, who helped battle the Eaton Fire, co-paced the group of runners who hoped to complete the marathon in two hours, 55 minutes.

“I guarantee that 90% of the runners in the marathon probably know somebody who lost their home or was personally impacted,” Garcia said in a statement. “When they asked me to pace, I knew it could be about helping runners and being part of an event that will be about the Los Angeles community. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

The 47-year-old Palmdale resident was the top runner in the 45-49 age group in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon with a personal best time of 2:40:13. He won the 2017 Angeles Crest 100 trail running race.

Another firefighter in the field was L.A. firefighter Greg Balandran, running on behalf of the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighters Fund, the official charity of the L.A. Firemen’s Relief Association.

Shortly after the wildfires erupted, the fund began providing long-term support for the more than two dozen LAFD firefighters and their families who lost homes or were displaced

The L.A. Marathon, New York Road Runners, the nonprofit organization that produces the New York City Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the Boston Athletic Association, organizers of the Boston Marathon, came together to support Together LA, an initiative spearheaded by The McCourt Foundation, which owns and operates the L.A. race, to aid those affected by the Los Angeles County wildfires.

The four organizations co-branded limited-edition Together LA merchandise, with all net proceeds benefiting Community Organized Relief Effort and the California Fire Foundation. These funds will provide emergency relief, assist displaced families and support long-term recovery efforts.

 

Countless folks were on hand to cheer their loved ones from all over the region.

Ismael Silva, 35, and his wife Kathia Rodriguez,  35, of Bellflower, waved a sign and a Mexican flag as they waited for her mother Gabriella Rodriguez, 64, of Carson to pass them.

“She’s four miles in,’” Rodriguez said as she checked the runner tracker app on her phone. “She’s been training for four months. She wanted to do this before her 65th birthday.”

The two cheered everyone who passed by as they waited. Runners in turn called back “si se puede” and “viva Mexico” to them.

 

Gisela Lopez, 30, of Long Beach, worked up a sweat rooting for the runners in Echo Park. At her station at 6:50 a.m., she and two friends first found her brother and five other friends running the course.

They stayed to cheer other runners with “you got this” “it’s all you” cheers, a clanging cowbell and purple pompoms. Their reward? High fives, waves and a pretty good workout of their own.

From Dodger Stadium, runners headed through Chinatown, downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood and Brentwood then back through Westwood to Century City, with the finish line for the “Stadium to the Stars” course on Santa Monica Boulevard, just past Century Park East.

Crews were on hand to pick up after the runners, who left behind scattered mounds of sweaters, blankets, water bottles and banana peels. Organizers said discarded clothing would be gathered up and donated to wildfire victims.

Parents and students from Gabriella Charter School in Echo Park doled out cupcake liners filled with Albanese gummy bears to passing runners.

The group went through more than 40 pounds of the sweet treat by 8:45 am.

“It’s a good way for children to learn to be part of the community,” said staffer Teodora Albarran.

When the gummies ran out, Principal Stephanie Piazza grabbed some purple pompoms.

She shouted: “Let’s give them energy another way!”

Staff writers Ryan Carter and Anissa Rivera, as well as City News Service, contributed to this report