45-Year-Old Kenyan Priscah Cherono Dominates to Win 2026 Los Angeles Marathon
In a commanding performance that defied expectations, 45-year-old Kenyan runner Priscah Cherono claimed victory at the 41st ASICS Los Angeles Marathon on March 8, 2026.
The mother of three, who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, led wire-to-wire from Mile 1 through the 26.2-mile course, finishing in an impressive 2:25:20. This time was just one second shy of her personal best and marked her second-fastest marathon ever. Cherono's front-running masterclass left her rivals far behind, with American Kellyn Taylor taking second place in 2:27:37, over two minutes adrift.
Cherono's triumph extended beyond the standard women's elite title, as she also secured the $10,000 bonus for winning The Marathon Chase—a special challenge where elite women receive a head start (15:45 in this case) over the men's elite field, with the first overall professional finisher claiming the prize. As the first woman to cross the line and the overall first professional, Cherono capitalized on the format to emerge as the undisputed standout. Her victory comes amid a remarkable late-career surge; since turning 45 last June, she has gone 3-for-3 in road races, including a 2:25:17 win at December's Marathon Project.
A former track standout, Cherono represented Kenya in the 5000m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (finishing 10th) and boasts a medal haul from world cross-country championships, a bronze at the 2007 World Athletics Championships in the 5000m, and other international successes before transitioning to longer distances. Post-race, she expressed pure joy, stating, "I’m so happy, I won the race. That’s so good for me, the course was so good," while downplaying age concerns with, "I’m only 45, but I am feeling I am OK." Her win highlights the enduring excellence of Kenyan distance running and serves as powerful inspiration, proving that age is no barrier to peak performance in elite athletics.
