Sabastian Sawe set a new world record at the London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours.
The Kenyan runner crossed the finish line in 1:59:30 on Sunday, cutting 65 seconds from the previous record and leading a race where multiple runners finished below the earlier mark.
Sawe, 30, led the field through the closing stages and increased his pace after 35km.
He finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who recorded 1:59:41, and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who finished in 2:00:28.
The result marked the first time the two-hour barrier had been broken in an official race. Earlier attempts had not met record conditions due to pacing arrangements and controlled environments.
Sawe said he realised the scale of the achievement when he saw the time at the finish. “I am feeling good. I am happy. It’s a day to remember for me,” he told BBC Sport. He added that the support of spectators played a role. “This day is not just mine, it is for everyone in London.”
Race data underlined the pace required for the record. The average speed equates to running repeated 100-metre segments in under 17 seconds across the full 42.195km distance. Coaches noted that such consistency had not been achieved in competition before.
The race also produced a new women’s record. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won in 2:15:41, improving her own women-only world best. She moved clear in the closing stages near Buckingham Palace to retain her title.
In the wheelchair races, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug secured his eighth London Marathon victory and his sixth in a row. Catherine Debrunner, also of Switzerland, won the women’s wheelchair race after a sprint finish, marking her fourth win in five years.
The London Marathon has not been regarded as the fastest course, which added to the significance of the results. Runners maintained record pace deep into the race, with leading athletes still accelerating between 30km and 40km.
Pre-race attention had focused on several contenders, including Kiplimo and Kejelcha. All three leading men finished faster than the previous world record of 2:00:35 set in 2023.
Sawe has previously called for strict anti-doping measures in athletics and reported frequent testing in the lead-up to major races. He trains at altitude in Kenya and spends extended periods away from family during preparation cycles.
HT
