Matt Richtman Becomes First American Man to Win LA Marathon in 31 Years
Sarah Johnson
March 17, 2025
Brief
Matt Richtman becomes the first American man in 31 years to win the Los Angeles Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu triumphs in the women’s division.
Move over, history books! For the first time in 31 years, an American man has claimed victory at the Los Angeles Marathon. Matt Richtman, hailing from Illinois, soared to the top in the second-largest field the race has ever seen, clocking in at 2:07:56. With an American flag in hand, Richtman crossed the finish line, making quite the patriotic statement.
Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu took home the win in the women’s division, finishing at 2:30:16—a reminder that the marathon remains as global as ever.
Richtman’s win, which he described as a "definite surprise," was a testament to his strategy—or lack thereof. "I came in feeling really good," he said. "It’s hard to gauge where you stand against the competition, but it was a really good group out there today. I was happy to run with those guys and ultimately win." A humble champion, indeed.
Trailing behind him were Kenya’s Athanas Kioko at 2:10:55 and Mose Kiptoo at 2:13:13. Looks like it wasn’t just a race; it was a nail-biter.
During his college days at Montana State University, Richtman ran for the Bobcats, but he admitted he didn’t have much of a game plan going into this race. "The first half I just wanted to stay in the group, feel it out, because it’s a challenging course," he said. "The whole race I was running with a little bit of fear. It’s tough when you can’t see what’s going on behind you." Fear, it seems, proved to be quite the motivator.
Richtman also gave a heartfelt shoutout to the Los Angeles crowd, which cheered him on from start to finish. "It’s such a great day," he reflected. "The 40th anniversary of the race, so many legacy runners, and the crowd was amazing. It's incredible how much a supportive crowd can change the course of what you’re doing." Well, LA, give yourselves a pat on the back for powering this historic win.
With this victory, Richtman not only breaks a decades-long drought for American male marathoners but also proves that sometimes, running with grit (and maybe a sprinkle of fear) is the best strategy of all.
Topics
Editor's Comments
Thirty-one years without a win? That's longer than some of the marathoners have been alive! Richtman’s surprise victory shows that sometimes the best strategy is simply to keep pace and let the finish line come to you. Also, can we talk about how he describes running with fear? Sounds like a plot twist straight out of a sports drama—except this one’s real life.
Like this article? Share it with your friends!
If you find this article interesting, feel free to share it with your friends!
Thank you for your support! Sharing is the greatest encouragement for us.
