Sawe Shatters Marathon Record with Sub-2 Hour Run in London

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe, 31, set a new men’s marathon world record on Sunday in London, stopping the clock at 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds, officials said.

Officials described the performance as the first sub-two-hour marathon achieved in a competitive setting that is eligible for record recognition. The time cut 65 seconds from the previous world record held by Kelvin Kiptum.

A record on a course not known for record attempts

The record was set on a London course that has historically been viewed as less favorable for record attempts than some faster layouts, according to the account.

Another athlete, Yomif Kejelcha, also finished under two hours in the same race, highlighting the pace of the event.

Footwear details and performance claims

Details provided about Sawe’s equipment said his run was supported by advanced footwear technology. He wore Adidas Adios Pro 3 shoes listed at 99 grams.

The design claims cited for the model included an 11% greater forefoot energy return and a 1.6% improvement in running economy compared with earlier models.

Interrupted preparation and limited marathon experience

Sawe’s build-up was disrupted, with preparations delayed until February because of a stress fracture and a back issue. Despite that, he produced the record in what was described as only his fourth marathon.

His coach, Claudio Berardelli, attributed the breakthrough to Sawe’s physiological strengths and his approach to racing, and said those factors indicate further potential for faster times.

Sawe said he was surprised by the record and that his main focus had been on retaining his title.