Registration for L.A. Marathon Is on a Record Pace

With more than 15,000 runners registered for the Los Angeles Marathon, up 10% from the same time last year, a record number of entrants is expected for the March 14 event.

“I would say we’re on track to break 20,000 for the first time,” said Marie Patrick, co-founder and executive vice president of the event, which last year drew 19,712 entrants. “It’s fabulous. . . .

“For the city, for the event as a whole, for our image as a marathon, we like to keep growing. Our goal as an event is really just to continue to include as many people as possible. And across the board, there seems to be more enthusiasm, more interest.”

Nearly 25% of the entrants have registered on-line at https://www.lamarathon.com, Patrick said.

Among those entered are about 40 elite runners, including two-time defending women’s champion Lornah Kiplagat of Kenya, who is hoping to become the event’s first three-time winner.

The men’s division will not include last year’s winner, Zebadayo Bayo of Tanzania, but features five runners whose personal bests are better than the course record of 2:10:19 set by Martin Mondragon of Mexico in 1988.