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CV NEWS FEED // A former Montana State University runner made history March 16 by becoming the first American in 31 years to win the Los Angeles Marathon.
Matt Richtman crossed the finish line with a time of 2:07:56, securing a commanding victory over second-place finisher Athanas Kioko of Kenya, who finished in 2:10:55, MontanaSports.com reported.
Richtman’s victory is the fastest an American has achieved at the Los Angeles Marathon since Paul Pilkington’s 1994 win. For decades, Kenyan runners have dominated the event, claiming 22 titles.
The victory is especially significant given that it was only Richtman’s second marathon competition. His time now ranks as the seventh-fastest ever recorded by an American.
Reflecting on his strategy, Richtman admitted he did not enter the race with a strict plan.
“It’s always so tough to marathon just because so much can happen,” he said after the race, according to MontanaSports.com.
His approach was to stay with the lead pack through the first half and adjust from there.
“[I] ended up going a little bit to the lead and no one really came with me, so I figured let’s make it honest and go for it,” he said.
Originally from Elburn, Illinois, Richtman competed for Montana State from 2020 to 2024. As a senior, he placed 26th in the 10K at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, earning the fourth-highest finish in Montana State’s history.
