In a breathtaking finale that captivated spectators, American runner Nathan Martin clinched victory at the Los Angeles Marathon by the narrowest of margins. The athlete, hailing from Jackson, Michigan, completed the 26.2-mile race in a remarkable time of two hours, 11 minutes, and 18 seconds, edging out his competition in an unexpected and thrilling conclusion.

Martin’s performance became the talk of the town as video footage of the event spread rapidly online. The footage shows Martin making a dramatic late push to overtake Kenya’s Michael Kamau, who had been leading the race. Despite Kamau clocking the same official time as Martin, it was the American who broke the tape first, securing his place in the marathon’s history.

In the aftermath of the race, Kamau, visibly exhausted, collapsed upon crossing the finish line and required medical attention, being carried away on a stretcher. Meanwhile, Martin, who balances his athletic career with his role as a substitute teacher, shared insights into his strategic approach during the race.

Reflecting on his victory, the 36-year-old runner explained, “I noticed no one else was increasing their speed, so I decided it was time to make my move.” He recounted the critical moments leading up to his win, saying, “With five miles to go, I started to accelerate. By the time I was within a mile and a half, I could see the leader, and with just 800 meters remaining, I was confident I could catch him.”

Speaking to reporters after the race, Martin revealed that he began his move on the leader five miles out, admitting: ‘When I saw no-one else was picking up the pace, I decided I needed to push.’

He added: ‘At a mile and a half to go, I could see the leader and with 800 meters to go, I was thinking, “I’m catching him”.’

Nathan Martin (top) can be seen chasing down his Kenyan rival as they approach the finish

As Michael Kamau closes in on the finish line, Martin is still stalking him trying to overtake

And that thought became a reality seconds later, with his sheer determination propelling him over the line to win.

The second-placed runner, Kamau, didn’t take any fluids during the race and fell at the finish before being taken away on a stretcher.

Alongside his job as a substitute teacher, Martin is also the track and cross country coach at Jackson High School in Michigan.

His marathon personal best is 2:10:45 at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon, where he set a record as the fastest US-born black marathoner.

Last year, Matt Richtman became the first American to win the men’s race since 1994. He won in 2:07:56.

On Sunday, Enyew Nigat of Kenya was third in 2:14:23.

In the women’s race, Priscah Cherono of Kenya won in 2:25:20. The 45-year-old mother of three lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was 10th in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Incredibly, the American pips his exhausted Kenyan rival on the line to win in a photo finish

Kamau collapsed over the line and was immediately helped by medics before being taken away

Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, Arizona, finished second in 2:27:37. Antonina Kwambai of Kenya was third in 2:28:50.

Earlier in the week, race organizers had announced that because of the weather medals would be given out to runners who completed just 18 miles of the course that began at Dodger Stadium and ended in the Century City section of Los Angeles. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, that sparked fury on social media, with runners claiming 18 miles should not be counted as a full marathon.

‘So many times I would’ve loved to be done at 18,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘But then, I wouldn’t have finished a marathon.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ another added. ‘The race really doesn’t start until mile 20. Best marathon advice I ever got: “Consider it a [20-mile warmup] to the hardest 10k of your life.”‘

Non-professional runners in the marathon were given the option of quitting after 18 miles

One X user identifying himself as ‘Hybrid Athlete Guy’ called the decision ‘pathetic.’

Amid the uproar, race officials from The McCourt Foundation cited safety concerns amid rising temperatures for the decision. 

Although the professionals started earlier in the morning, with temperatures in the 60s, LA was nearly 20-degrees hotter by the time the amateur men and women were on the course in the mid-morning hours. 

‘If you’re having a tough day and want to end your race before 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early,’ read a statement from The McCourt Foundation ahead of the race. ‘You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time.’