Photo Credit; Getty Images
The 2026 Los Angeles Marathon is striving to dispel speculations about its surprising finish.
After leading for the majority of the March 8 race, Kenya's Michael Kimani Kamau came in second by .01 seconds, with American Nathan Martin grabbing the lead in the dying moments, finishing in 2:11:16.50 to Kamau's 2:11:16.94.
Following the picture finish, several supporters questioned Kamau's loss, blaming the marathon's motorcade and a fan waving a Kenyan flag for his error, which caused him to take a false turn and run away from the finish line. After a few feet, the 34-year-old turned around to take the correct road to the end, with Martin filling the gap between them.
However, in a March 9 statement to the Los Angeles Marathon, they denied that their motorcade was to blame.
"This morning, we became aware of a video circulating on social media of Michael Kimani Kamau going slightly off course as our lead vehicles made their pre-planned exit off the race course," the organizers said. "There were no protests filed. "The results of Sunday's event remain unchanged."
The marathon representative claimed that their motorcade followed the intended path before approaching the finish line, adding, "Our vehicles did not make a wrong turn at this point or any other during the event."
The representative did mention that fan contact with runners could be distracting.
"An excited spectator's actions just feet before the finish line chute fencing began, as observed in the video, are cause for concern,” they continued. “We’re gratified that our race attracts large spectator crowds, and we will review how future issues of this kind can be avoided as part of our post-race discussions.”
The L.A. Marathon also honored all of the race's podium finishers, including Enyew Nigat, who finished third in the Men's Pro Podium, and Priscah Cherono, who finished first in the Women's Pro Podium, and commended the event's over 27,000 participants.
While Kamau has yet to officially remark on his status as runner-up, winner Martin was taken aback by his victory.
"A mile to go, I started seeing the pace car and the lead guy, and said, 'Well maybe, we'll see what happens,'" he told NBC's CNN. "And then 800 to go, I'm like, 'All right, I have to go for it, I have to at least try,' and things kind of worked out."
