Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe Shatters Marathon World Record with First Sub-Two-Hour Run at London Marathon
In a historic moment for athletics, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe became the first man to officially run a marathon in under two hours, setting a new world record of 1:59:30 at the London Marathon on Sunday. The 30-year-old athlete etched his name in the history books, breaking the previous record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Sawe’s achievement marks the first time in 24 years that the London Marathon course has witnessed a world record. It also fulfills a long-standing goal for marathon runners, who have been chasing the elusive sub-two-hour milestone for years. Sawe’s victory was not only a personal triumph but also a testament to his dominance in the sport—he remains undefeated in all four marathons he has contested since his debut in 2024.
The race began with Sawe and Ethiopian debutant Yomif Kejelcha leading the pack. By the halfway mark, Sawe was already on world-record pace, crossing the 21km point in 1:00:29. The decisive moment came between the 30km and 35km marks, where Sawe and Kejelcha surged ahead, dropping Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who eventually finished third.
Kejelcha, despite being a first-time marathoner, held his own and set a national record of 1:59:41, becoming the second-fastest man in history. However, Sawe proved unstoppable. With one mile remaining, he broke clear of Kejelcha and stormed down The Mall to claim victory in front of a rapturous London crowd.
Sawe’s performance surpassed even that of legendary Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, who became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019. However, Kipchoge’s achievement was not recognized as an official world record due to the controlled conditions of the event. Sawe’s feat, achieved in a competitive race, now stands as the definitive benchmark in marathon running.
The Kenyan athlete had previously targeted the world record at the Berlin Marathon in September 2023 but was thwarted by extreme weather conditions. In London, however, the cool and favorable weather provided the perfect backdrop for his historic run.
Behind Sawe and Kejelcha, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the 2025 Chicago Marathon champion, finished third with a national record of 2:00:28. Another Kenyan, Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon winner, came in fourth with a personal best time of 2:01:39.
Sawe’s achievement is being celebrated not only in Kenya but across the global athletics community. His record-breaking run has redefined what is possible in marathon running, inspiring a new generation of athletes to push the boundaries of human endurance.
As the marathon world continues to process this monumental event, one thing is clear: Sabastian Sawe has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time.
— Reported by Nexio News
