Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager won the 35th Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday after finishing in 2:08:26.57, while Kenya’s Margaret Muriuki topped the elite women’s field with a time of 2:29:27.68, according to the marathon’s leaderboard.
John Langat of Kenya had the lead until Teshager made his move down the stretch to win by 40 seconds.
Teshager turns 20 years old on Monday. (The L.A. Marathon listed his age Sunday as 20.)
Wilson Kwambai Chebet, 34, also from Kenya, placed in third, L.A. Marathon’s website said.
Last year’s winner Elisha Barno, 34, came in ninth place.
In the women’s field, Muriuki won with her personal best time. It’s her second marathon victory in three months after the 33-year-old won at Honolulu in December.
She was in control of the women’s race throughout and kept a strong pace, eventually pulling away from 23-year-old Almaz Negede of Ethiopia with seven miles remaining to win by 3:01.
Jane Kibii, a 34-year-old runner from Kenya, placed in third.
KTLA Channel 5 began live coverage of the race on ktla.com and the KTLA 5 News app with a countdown at 6 a.m. Sunday. The KTLA 5 News Facebook page also started livestreaming from the finish line cam just after 9 a.m.
City public transportation officials had encouraged those who want to cheer on participants in person to take the L.A. Metro Rail. Partly sunny conditions with a high near 66 F in Los Angeles and near 61 F in Santa Monica were in the forecast.
Guidance for runners, spectators amid coronavirus outbreak
L.A. County health officials offered guidance for participants and spectators as L.A. Marathon organizers confirmed that the annual event would happen as scheduled.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health urged those participating or planning to watch the event in person to stay home if they feel even mildly sick.
Spectators should keep at least 6 feet away from other people who are not their family or friends, officials said. They should avoid sharing food and water and shaking hands. They should also wash their hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, especially before eating, after using the restroom and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing.
Meanwhile, runners should wash their hands or use a hand sanitizer before beginning the marathon. Along the course, they should not shake hands with their fellow participants or the public. They should not share food or water with other runners, and frequently use hand sanitizers provided along the race.
The course
The 26.2-mile course begins at the Dodger Stadium and ends at the intersection of Ocean and California avenues in Santa Monica. The race was set to start as follows:
6:30 a.m.: competitors who use wheelchairs
6:42 a.m.: competitors who use handcycles
6:45 a.m.: women’s elite competitors
6:55 a.m.: men’s elite competitors and full field
The L.A. Marathon has an app that lets users track runners and receive updates on the race, which has 6 1/2-hour limit for participants.
Last year, L.A. Marathon winner Elisha Barno of Kenya crossed the finish line in 2:11:46. Ethiopia’s Askale Merachi won the women’s division in 2:24:12.
Results of this year’s marathon are on this page on L.A. Marathon’s website.
Street closures
Major thoroughfares along the course were scheduled to be blocked for certain periods between 4 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Click the following links for locations and times:
• course closures, from Elysian Park to Santa Monica
• ramp closures, including on the northbound and southbound 110 Freeway in Central L.A., on the northbound and southbound 101 Freeway from downtown L.A. to Hollywood, on the southbound 405 Freeway in the Westside, and a portion of the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica
• streets only accessible to affected residents in Elysian Park, downtown L.A., Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, West L.A. and Santa Monica
• street closures in Beverly Hills from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• street closures in West Hollywood
Entertainment along the course
The L.A. Marathon planned a series of performances and other events, including:
• a performance by L.A.-based Japanese group Koshin Taiko Drummers at the mile 4 marker in Little Tokyo
• a “breakfast party” hosted by the Sunset Triangle Place in Silver Laker, with offerings from local Australian cafe Roo Coffee and performances by singers and songwriters
• a show by the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, the Channel Q Radio station and Rolling Stones tribute band “The Hollywood Stones” in the West Hollywood portion of the course
• a performance by classical pianist Hamid Pasha on the northern end of Rodeo Drive and the Great American Swing Band on the other end of the street, next to Beverly Wilshire Hotel
• a performance at mile 20 in West L.A. by school marching bands from across the region, inas well as the “rivalry row” put on by the University of California Los Angeles and University of Southern California
