Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in an official competitive race.
The 30-year-old Kenyan stormed to victory in 1:59:30, smashing the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
Historic Run In Perfect Conditions
Sawe was already on world-record pace at halfway, crossing in 1:00:29, before accelerating over the second half to dip under the two-hour mark.
His effort surpasses the unofficial milestone achieved by Eliud Kipchoge in 2019, which was not recognised due to controlled conditions.
Rivals Also Enter Record Books
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also broke the barrier, finishing second in 1:59:41, while Jacob Kiplimo secured third in 2:00:28, also faster than the previous world record.
Sawe made his decisive move before the final 10km, pulling clear with a blistering pace that left the field struggling to respond.
Women’s Race And Wheelchair Events
In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa retained her title, setting a new women-only world record of 2:15:41 ahead of Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Swiss racer Marcel Hug equalled the record for most London Marathon men’s wheelchair wins with his eighth title, while Catherine Debrunner successfully defended the women’s crown.
A Race For The Ages
Sawe’s second-half split of 59:01 underlined the scale of his achievement, as he maintained relentless speed to secure one of the greatest performances in marathon history.
“I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me,” Sawe said after the race, celebrating a landmark moment that could redefine long-distance running.
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