American’s Matt Richtman and Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu, have returned to defend their Los Angeles Marathon titles, in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.
Matthew Richtman and Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu celebrate their wins after the 40th annual Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 16, 2025. American Matthew Richtman’s life unexpectedly changed when he ran a personal best time of 2 hours, 7 minutes 56 seconds to win the 2025 ASICS Los Angeles Marathon.
“Everything really changed after that,” Richtman said. “A little bit more attention from everything and looking forward to future races and what I was capable of doing. It definitely altered the training I was doing and just made me hungry for what’s to come.” By covering the course at a blistering pace of 4:53 per mile for 26.2 miles, he instantly catapulted himself into the conversation as a legitimate, yet too-early, contender to make the 2028 Summer Games and race for Olympic gold in the streets of Los Angeles. “It is difficult because it came upon me as it did everyone else,” Richtman said, “so just juggling that and still trying to stay centered and stay with what got me there, right.” Richtman is toeing the line to continue making history at this year’s 41st running of the Los Angeles Marathon. The 26-year-old, who trains in Montana, admitted he’s not at the same fitness level due to an injury. But that’s not stopping him from giving it a go in hopes of defending his title. “It hasn’t been the greatest training or smooth sailing, so I’ve been navigating that and trying to figure out how I can get what I need done on any day,” Richtman said. His time last year was the second-fastest time in course history. He does not expect a breakaway performance, especially since he knows he will have a target on his back as the reigning champion. “The opportunity to double back is super important to me,” said Richtman, who made a decisive move at Mile 15 to become the first American to win the race in more than 30 years. “That’s why I came back.” The marathon’s elite men’s field will start at Dodger Stadium on Sunday at 7 a.m. and the elite women will start at 6:40 a.m. The Marathon Chase time differential will be 15:45 . The first runner to cross the finish line will win a bonus. The women are 10-5 in the Marathon Chase, including six of the last seven races. Richtman won last year’s challenge by more than six minutes.The course twists through downtown L.A., Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before ending along the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.“This sport is all about what you’ve got in the tank for this race on Sunday morning,” Reavis said, “and there are certain people coming into this on top form.” Other contenders include Kenya’s Athanas Kioko, who finished second last year in 2:10:55, and 2024 champion Dominic Ngeno, who also is from Kenya. Ngeno holds the fastest personal best time in the men’s field at 2:06.35.Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Tulu won last year’s women’s race in 2:30:16 and is returning to defend her title. Since then, Tulu has improved and run a personal best 2:29:13 for a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Houston Marathon. Other contenders include Kenya’s Antonina Kwambai and American Savannah Berry , who finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s race. Berry led for the majority of her L.A. Marathon debut. “It is not necessarily the fastest runner, it’s the smartest runner who wins these races,” Reavis said.American Makenna Myler, who has a personal best of 2:26:14 said she has drawn inspiration from Richtman’s unexpected victory last year. “I’ve asked him about the energy he was feeling,” Myler said before her fifth career marathon and first in L.A. “I was very inspired by Matt. I feel like he just blew things out of the water.” Myler said the women’s field is talented, but she is ready to compete for the win, or at least a top three finish. “It’s kind of fun when it’s a hilly marathon,” Myler said. “It’s not always about who is the fittest. Things are unexpected and it’s fun to compete in that type of environment.”LA Marathon: Freeway ramps and street closures for the March 8 raceLA Marathon: How to watch the race live on Sunday on TV Man accused of starting Palisades fire should be released after Lachman fire revelations, attorney saysBrady Bunch house is now an official LA historic-cultural monumentThousands brace for fallout from unreported LA County criminal convictionsHorse racing: Trainer Mark Glatt mourns tragic loss as he seeks major victoryPro-skater and Michelin-starred chef open LA new burger spot with only two items on the menu
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