Kiplimo dropped away coming down the home stretch and Ondoro did, too, while Tewelde surged, seemingly from nowhere, in an unsuccessful attempt to catch Kimining at the finish. Tewelde finished fifth in the Los Angeles Marathon.

“I hear that guy coming so then I increase my speed through to the finish,” Kimining said.

Former Montana State runner Matthew Richtman closed fast, too, and finished fourth, 28 seconds behind Kimining. He’s from Elburn, Ill., and is eligible for some extra cash as part of that Best in Midwest program.

“I have a lot of family around here and it’s close to home, too,” he said.

Richtman called the day “perfect” with weather conditions that stayed windy but with a sky that turned brilliantly blue as the first marathon finishers crossed the finish line.

“You couldn’t ask for anything better,” Richtman said. “It was exactly how we wanted it.”