Nathan Martin chased down leader Michael Kimani Kamau over the final meters of the Los Angeles Marathon to win by 0.01 seconds in an epic photo finish. However, it appears as though the Kenyan runner only lost the race because he followed the lead moto off of the course and ran the wrong way.
The American would not have been able to close the gap if his opponent did not have to circle back.
Believe it or not, this was actually the second incident of this nature in back-to-back weekends. A similar thing happened at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships on the first of the month!
Nathan Martin won the Los Angeles Marathon.
Martin works as a high school track and cross country coach in Michigan. His students will be proud.
The 36-year-old finished the 26.2-mile race in a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 17 seconds to win the Los Angeles Marathon by exactly 0.01 seconds. It came right down to the finish line.
Michael Kimani Kamau was way out in front as the solo leader when Nathan Martin decided to make a move with approximately five miles to go. He saw that no one around him was picking up the pace and started to push. He was able to see Kamau at a mile and a half to go. It was with 800 meters remaining that he started his sprint.
Kamau looked back and saw Martin pushing toward the line but his tank was empty. There was nothing left.
Kamau’s kick did not kick. Martin hawked him down. The American runner overtook the Kenyan runner right at the tape.
Martin never gave up!
This was the closest finish in Los Angeles Marathon history. Although it is not an official major, it is one of the biggest and most respected marathons in the United States.
Michael Kimani Kamau ran the wrong way off course.
The epic finish to the LA Marathon has gone extremely viral. You won’t see a more exciting finish!
Unfortunately, the result was marred by something of a controversy— for lack of better word.
Michael Kimani Kamau was out in front as the solo leader at Mile 26 when he got caught up in disarray. The brief moment of confusion with approximately 400 meters to go cost him the race.
A woman carrying a Kenyan flag cut in front of Kamau, impeded his path and cut him off to his left. That forced him to run toward the middle of a fork in the road. He followed the lead vehicle and police escort to the right of the fork as a nearby race organizer waved him in that direction. It was the wrong way…
Elite marathon runners were supposed to run to the left.
Kamau had to slow his stride and turn around to get back on course. Martin followed shortly behind.
This blunder ultimately proved to be the difference between first place and second place. Kamau would’ve won if he did not lose his pace on the final straightaway by running off course. Martin was able to run him down and win by 0.01 seconds because of the mishap. It wouldn’t’ve been that close otherwise.