Sabastian Sawe Sets a New World Record in the Marathon, Completing It in Under Two Hours
LONDON — The longstanding two-hour marathon barrier has been officially surpassed, marking a historic moment in sports.
Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe claimed victory at the London Marathon on Sunday with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, breaking the previous men’s world record by an impressive 65 seconds.
“What comes today is not for me alone,” the 29-year-old Sawe said after the race. “But for all of us today in London.”
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished just 11 seconds behind in his inaugural marathon, also completing the 26.2-mile course in under two hours. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo rounded out the podium, finishing third with a time of 2:00:28, breaking the former record set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 by seven seconds.
In a remarkable display of endurance, Sawe increased his pace over the marathon, running the second half in 59 minutes and 1 second. He broke away from Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and sprinted home on The Mall to the sound of roaring crowds.
“It’s a day to remember for me,” he reflected, expressing gratitude to the enthusiastic spectators who filled the streets of the capital. “If it was not for them, you don’t feel like you are so loved … with them calling, you feel so happy and strong.”
Previous Attempts at Breaking Two Hours
Reaching the two-hour mark in a marathon has been a long-anticipated milestone, having been achieved previously under special conditions. In 2019, Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge completed the feat in Vienna during the “1:59 Challenge,” a race organized by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe with favorable conditions and rotating pacemakers. However, that time of 1:59:40 was not recognized due to the non-competitive nature of the event. Sawe’s accomplishment came on a standard course in dry, sunny weather, surpassing Kipchoge’s time by 10 seconds.
Paula Radcliffe, a former London Marathon winner, remarked during the BBC’s race commentary, “The goalposts have literally just moved for marathon running.” At the turn of the century, the men’s best marathon time was 2:05:42, set by Khalid Khannouchi in 1999. This record has been gradually eclipsed over the past two decades by various Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes, including Haile Gebrselassie, Wilson Kipsang, Kipchoge, and most recently Kiptum.
Women’s Marathon Records
The London Marathon also saw a record-setting performance in the women’s category, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa winning in 2:15:41. This victory marked the fastest time in a women’s-only marathon, although it fell 16 seconds short of the combined race record set by Radcliffe in 2003.
Assefa was trailed closely by Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who finished second with a personal-best time on her London debut, while compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei took third, just two seconds behind. This was the first instance where three women finished a marathon in under 2 hours and 16 minutes.
“I screamed when I finished because I knew I was breaking the world record,” Assefa remarked. “I felt much healthier today and have worked really hard on my speed; all my training has paid off.”
Wheelchair Racing Highlights
In the wheelchair division, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claimed his sixth consecutive men’s title and eighth overall, while Catherine Debrunner narrowly beat Tatyana McFadden to defend her women’s title in a thrilling finish.
