Kenyan Runner Sabastian Sawe Sets New Marathon Record Under Two Hours

Historic Marathon Achievement

London [UK], April 26: Sabastian Sawe from Kenya has made history by becoming the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours during a competitive event.

Sawe triumphed at the 2026 London Marathon, finishing the 42.2-kilometre race in an astonishing time of 1:59:30, achieving what many believed was unattainable for years.

In a remarkable display of endurance, Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha also broke the two-hour mark, securing second place with a time of 1:59:41, thus joining Sawe in the exclusive sub-two-hour club, as reported by Olympics.com.

Prior to this event, the two-hour barrier for men's marathons had never been surpassed under regulated conditions, marking a significant milestone in athletics.

The 31-year-old Sawe surpassed the previous record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who completed the Chicago Marathon in 2023 with a time of 2:00:35.

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo finished third in the race, clocking in at 2:00:28.

The marathon commenced in Greenwich Park, winding through the streets of London and concluding at The Mall near Buckingham Palace.

In women's competition, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered her own world record for women-only marathons, winning with a time of 2:15:41, improving upon her previous record of 2:15:50 set last year, according to Runner's World.

Kenya's Hellen Obiri secured second place with a time of 2:15:53, while her fellow countrywoman Joyciline Jepkosgei finished third at 2:15:55.