Sawe Shatters Marathon Record in London

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon on Sunday by becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, taking victory in 1:59:30 over the 42.195km distance. The result set a new world record and moved the men’s mark below a threshold that had long stood as a symbolic barrier in the sport.

Sawe’s time bettered the previous world record of 2:00:35, which had been set by Kelvin Kiptum in October 2023. Officials said Sawe finished 65 seconds quicker than that prior benchmark, and his winning performance placed him at the top of a men’s podium where multiple athletes also went under Kiptum’s former record.

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha took second place in 1:59:41 in what was described as his marathon debut. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo finished third in 2:02:28. All three male podium finishers recorded times faster than 2:00:35, underscoring the pace of the front group on the day.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa retained her London Marathon title and set a new world record of her own, winning in 2:15:41. The company and officials said her latest mark improved on her previous best by nine seconds, extending her record-setting run while also confirming her position at the top of the women’s field.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finished second with a personal best of 2:15:53, and she was narrowly ahead of compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei in third. The close finish behind Assefa highlighted the depth of elite women’s marathon racing, with multiple athletes producing standout times in the same event.

The London Marathon also delivered notable results in the wheelchair races. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won his eighth London Marathon title, adding another victory to his record at the event. Catherine Debrunner secured her third consecutive win, extending her streak in London.

While the results set new benchmarks, some details remain unclear from the available information, including the specific conditions on the course and how pacing unfolded across the full distance. What is clear from the published times is that Sunday’s London Marathon produced record-breaking performances in both the men’s and women’s races, alongside repeat champions in the wheelchair events.