Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe Smashes World Record With Historic Sub-Two-Hour London Marathon Win
Sports Updated: 26 April 2026 16:01 EAT
Sabastian Sawe 🇰🇪 has just shattered the World Record at the London Marathon, running 1:59:30
Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe produced a landmark performance at the London Marathon, storming to victory in an astonishing 1:59:30 to become the first man to officially run a marathon under two hours in open competition.
The 31-year-old’s run rewrote athletics history, breaking the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Sawe slashed more than a minute off the mark, a rare and dramatic improvement at the elite level.
His achievement surpasses the widely publicized 1:59:40 recorded by Eliud Kipchoge in 2019, which was not officially recognized due to controlled pacing conditions, making Sawe’s performance the first legally ratified sub-two-hour marathon.
Sawe executed a tactically disciplined race, staying within the lead pack for much of the early distance before launching a decisive surge after the 30-kilometre mark that left his rivals struggling to respond.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41, also dipping below the two-hour barrier in what became the fastest runner-up time in marathon history.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo secured third place in 2:00:28, recording one of the quickest times ever for that position and underlining the depth of the elite field.
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto came home fourth in 2:01:39, while Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola rounded out the top five in 2:02:59.
Race conditions in London were described as near-perfect, with cool temperatures and minimal wind contributing to a fast pace from the outset, as elite runners targeted record-breaking splits.
Sawe’s performance featured a negative split, covering the second half of the race faster than the first, a hallmark of elite endurance strategy and a key factor behind the historic time.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa claimed victory in 2:15:41, setting a new women-only world record in a highly competitive field.
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei followed closely in second and third, both finishing under 2:16 in one of the fastest podium sweeps in women’s marathon history.
The 2026 London Marathon, which attracted tens of thousands of participants, will be remembered as a defining moment in athletics, with Sawe’s sub-two-hour run widely seen as breaking one of sport’s most enduring barriers.
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