Mark Saina beat fellow Kenyan Ben Maiyo in the closing stretch to win the Los Angeles Marathon in California.

Saina broke the tape Sunday with a winning time of two hours, nine minutes, 35 seconds. Russian Lyubov Denisova set a course record for the women in two hours, nine minutes, 44 seconds in a format started last year that allows the women to start ahead of the men.

Maiyo, running in his first marathon, passed Denisova shortly before the 40 kilometer marker. But Saina pursued him and surged ahead in the final moments.

In the wheelchair division, Australian Kurt Fearnley held off six-time Los Angeles Marathon champion Saul Mendoza in a thrilling sprint to the finish. Fearnley finished third last year.