Kenyan Man, Ethiopian Woman Win LA Marathon

SANTA MONICA, CA --Weldon Kirui of Kenya was the men's winner in the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon, while Sule Utura Gedo of Ethiopia was the women's winner Sunday.

Kirui was the 2016 champion, and he completed the 26-mile, 385-yard "Stadium to the Sea" course in two hours, 11 minutes, 48 seconds, nine seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Elisha Barno, the 2017 champion. Gebresadik Adihana of Ethiopia was third in 2:12.57.

Utura Gedo was the women's winner in 2:33:52, six seconds ahead of countrywoman Tsehay Desalegn. Hellen Jepkurgat of Kenya, the 2017 women's winner, was third in 2:34:03.

The men's race has been won by a Kenyan every year since 1999, except for 2011 and 2014, when it was won by Ethiopians. A U.S. runner last won in 1994.

African women have won seven of the last nine races, with runners from the former Soviet Union winning the other two times. A U.S. runner last won the women's race in 1994.

The race has a purse of $100,000, with equal prize money for men and women.

The winners will each receive $23,000, the runners-up $11,250 and third-place finishers get $9,000.

--City News Service/Photo via Shutterstock