Los Angeles, CA—It’s been nearly three decades since an American male runner last won the Los Angeles Marathon. That historic moment occurred in 1994 when Utah’s Paul Pilkington surprised everyone by winning as the pacesetter. This iconic moment is etched in the memories of the first 40 years of the LA Marathon.

Paul had been scheduled to run a 5:00/mile pace for 15 miles, which, considering the 1994 Los Angeles Marathon was the USA Marathon Championship, was unusual. Typically, championship races don’t use pacers, and they rarely feature an elite international field. However, LA had both that year.

At 6 miles, Paul had pulled out to an 11 second advantage. By 8 miles, his pace had taken him 25 seconds clear. He hit the half in 65:15, right on schedule, but one minute ahead of the chasers. 

I was riding in the KCOP-TV lead motorcycle calling the race. And after Paul looked back several times, I could tell he may be having some intentions. So I asked him, “what are you gonna do?” Another look back to the widening gap behind him, and he said, “I’m gonna go.”

At that point, I felt I had an obligation to the other runners, to let them know that the pacer was not dropping out. He was so far ahead by that point, they couldn’t see him. So how would they know? Other than the fact that the large press truck and that lead motorcycle television cameras were not with them. But you know how it is. When you’re competing, you’re in that moment, you’re not doing large scale analytical thought beyond the competition itself. They would’ve just assumed that the pacer had dropped off.

Pilkington’s lead continued to grow. At 30 km he had well over a minute. In second place ran three men: Anaheim, California’s Danny Gonzales, who had a best of 2:13; Ahmed Salah of Djibouti, the 1988 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist; and Luca Barzaghi, a 25-year-old Italian who had finished seventh in the 1992 New York City Marathon. 

So, I stopped my motorcycle and waited for the chase pack. I’m not sure if Salah and Barzaghi understood when I told them the pacer was not dropping out. But Danny Gonzales did.

In any case, Barzaghi broke free from Salah and Gonzales at 20 miles. But Pilkington was too far in front, and came across the line at 2:12:13 just one minute off his personal best from Houston in 1990.

It was the biggest win of his career, $15,000 for the win, $12,000 for the USATF championship, plus a new Mercedes-Benz car.

Luca Barzaghi came across 39 seconds later in second, while third place was taken by a Polish runner, Andrzez Krzyscin. 

As Barzaghi crossed the line, he formed his right hand into a fist and pumped the air as if signaling his victory. But there was no tape to break. And though response was warm, it was not the kind of response the winner would receive. 

Luca did not learn he hadn’t won until his agent, the young Federico Rosa, told him he had finished in second place. He was not happy. 

Paul Pilkington’s win as a pacer in Los Angeles changed the way pacer contracts were structured in the future. Though still official runners, they were not supposed to finish the race. In fact, they were not eligible for prize money. However, if the runners they paced set records, there would be a bonus involved.

This year, there are no pacers at the Los Angeles Marathon for its 40th anniversary. But we do have an American who has an outside chance to win the race—though his main objective is to finish on the podium. And there’s good reason to believe that this is all very possible. 

Matt Richtman is a 24 year-old out of Elburn, Illinois, who is a 2024 graduate of Montana State University in Bozeman. After his long track and cross country seasons in 2024, Matt took up the challenge of the Twin Cities Marathon last October. With a short buildup and a long season behind him, he still managed to finish in fourth place in 2:10:47. 

Just two weeks ago he finished sixth in Atlanta at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, running 61:14 a personal best by six seconds.

“I will be shooting more for place than time,“ he said of his LA goal. “I think I have a shot at winning. But we’ll see how it plays out.”

He admitted being a little surprised by his 2:10 finish in Twin Cities. Because he wasn’t focused on time. Also, being self-coached, there was nobody telling him that this kind of training probably equates to this kind of marathon time. He was just competing. 

He didn’t know the pace he was running until he saw the clock just before the finish. That may be a pretty good lesson to a lot of people. Throw away the watch and just compete.

“It was quicker than I thought,” said Matt, who has upped his training this winter to over 100 miles per week. “But it gives me confidence here in Los Angeles. Toward the end in Twin Cities, I was feeling pretty good. So maybe I’ll put in more effort into the middle in LA and not worry as much about the end.”

On Sunday morning, Matt will face race favorite 22 year-old Gizealew Ayana of Ethiopia, the 2:07:15 Paris Marathon champion in 2023. That was also his debut. In 2022, as an 18-year-old, he ran 59:38 in the half marathon, so the kid has talent. Plus, his Moyo Sports stablemate, Jemal Yimer, won here in LA in 2022. Ayana will be hard to beat.

The weather looks ideal for Sunday, high 40s Fahrenheit in the morning, going up to the mid 60s in the afternoon, with overcast skies.

I’ll have an another follow up tomorrow after the press conference. But things are just getting started for the 40th running of the Los Angeles Marathon. It’s not one of the majors, but remains one of the great events in this city nonetheless. 26,000 strong in its sold-out field go off at 7 a.m. 

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