Stacy Ndiwa and Jemal Yimer take home gold medals in 38th Los Angeles Marathon
Kenyan runner Stacy Ndiwa won the women’s division of the 38th Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, claiming a $10,000 bonus by crossing the Century City finish line ahead of the men’s winner Jemal Yimer from Ethiopia.
The elite women started the race 18 minutes and 19 seconds ahead of the elite men for the Morgan & Morgan Marathon Chase. The 30-year-old Ndiwa crossed the finish line in Century City about 32 seconds before the 26-year-old Yimer. Kenyans swept the top three places in the women’s field, with Martha Akeno finishing second in 2:34:25 and Grace Kahura third in 2:38:15.
The marathon drew entrants from all 50 states and 67 nations, with more than 22,000 participants. The race began under cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-50s at Dodger Stadium. Mayor Karen Bass spoke at the starting line, welcoming the field and encouraging them to do their best. A light drizzle fell by the time runners began crossing the finish line.
Ahead of the race, organizers advised runners to watch their step and look out for potholes caused by recent rains, and worked with the Bureau of Street Services to fill in as many as they could before race day. The course took runners through downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood, and Brentwood, before looping back to Century City, with the finish line on Santa Monica Boulevard between Avenue of the Stars and Century Park East.
The men’s and women’s winners both received $6,000, with second and third-place finishers receiving $2,500 and $1,500, respectively. The men’s and women’s wheelchair winners each received $2,500. The race had 80 charity partners, with runners raising more than $2.5 million.
