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Matt Richtman Becomes First American Man to Win LA Marathon in 31 Years

The 25-year-old Illinois native set a personal best of 2:07:56 in only his second marathon, marking a historic victory in the race's 40th edition.

Matthew Richtman wins the 40th annual Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Matt Richtman of the United States crosses the finish line and wins the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon at Westfield Century City on March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty)

Overview

  • Matt Richtman, a former Montana State All-American, broke a 31-year drought for American men in the Los Angeles Marathon with his victory on March 16, 2025.
  • Richtman completed the race in 2:07:56, achieving the eighth-fastest marathon time ever by an American and winning by nearly three minutes.
  • This was only Richtman’s second marathon, following his debut at the 2024 Twin Cities Marathon, where he finished fourth.
  • Richtman credited his win to a combination of crowd support, strategic pacing, and a decisive mid-race surge that left the competition behind.
  • The victory has sparked speculation about Richtman’s potential to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as he expressed interest in preparing for the event.