Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier In London City Marathon

Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to complete a competitive marathon in under two hours.

The 30-year-old Kenyan crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds more than a minute faster than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous world record of 2:00:35, set in 2023.

While Eliud Kipchoge famously ran under two hours in 2019, his 1:59:40 was achieved under controlled conditions with rotating pacemakers and hydration on demand, meaning it was never ratified as an official record.

Sawe’s run, by contrast, took place in a standard race environment. Already on world-record pace when he passed halfway in 1:00:29, Sawe actually sped up over the second half, finishing faster than Kipchoge’s unofficial time.

Sawe made his decisive move before the final 10 kilometers. Only debutant Yomif Kejelcha could match his surge, and remarkably, Kejelcha also dipped under two hours, finishing second in 1:59:41 – making him the second man ever to achieve the feat in race conditions.

Half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28, also faster than Kiptum’s previous record.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa improved her own world record for a women-only field. She surged clear of Kenyans Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a thrilling finish to retain her title in 2:15:41.

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug cruised to a record-equalling eighth London Marathon victory in the elite men’s wheelchair race, tying Britain’s David Weir by winning for a fifth consecutive year.

Fellow Swiss Catherine Debrunner also retained the elite women’s wheelchair title, bursting past American Tatyana McFadden in the closing stages.