Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made history by breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon. He won the London Marathon with an unofficial time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds. This amazing feat eclipsed the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum during the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
“It’s a day to remember for me,” Sawe shared with the BBC. Prior to this, the closest anyone had run a marathon under two hours was Eliud Kipchoge, who completed it in 1:59:40.2 in a special event in 2019, but it wasn’t counted as a formal race.
On Sunday, Sawe’s impressive performance placed him ahead of Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who finished his first marathon in an impressive 1:59:41, and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who crossed the line in 2:00:28. Both also ran faster than the former world record.
Historically, the men’s marathon record has been getting closer to two hours. Advances in running shoes and training methods have played a significant role. Kipchoge set a new record in 2018 at the Berlin Marathon, bringing it down to 2:01:39. He continued to break his own record, lowering it further to 2:01:09 in 2022. Kiptum’s 2023 achievement was particularly significant, though his tragic passing in a car accident in February 2024 cast a shadow over the running community.
Between 2018 and 2023, seven marathons were completed in times between 2:00:35 and 2:02:00. Sawe himself has now run four marathons and won them all, including another impressive victory at the London Marathon in 2025 with a time of 2:02:27.
During the race on Sunday, Sawe and others started strong, with the first half covered in a time of 1:00:29. He accelerated in the final stretch, maintaining an impressive pace of just over 4 minutes per mile.
Notably, Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa also shined by defending her title in the women’s race. She finished with a remarkable time of 2:15:41, breaking her own world record from the previous year. Assefa expressed her joy, saying, “To repeat my victory from last year means even more. It was one of my plans to break my own record, and I’m satisfied to do that.”
Assefa’s time ranks among the fastest in history, just behind other women’s records set in races with male competitors or pacers. The competition was fierce, with Kenyan Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei closely trailing her.
The excitement in marathon running is palpable, especially as the next major event is set for Sydney, Australia, on August 30. Notably, Sydney became a World Marathon Major in 2025, marking a significant development in the racing landscape.
Experts agree that with each progressive marathon, the boundary for what’s possible continues to expand. As shoes and training innovate, we may see more athletes challenge records that once felt insurmountable. For now, Sawe and Assefa lead the pack, inspiring future generations of runners worldwide.
For more insights on marathon records, check out detailed reports from World Athletics.
