Sabastian Sawe’s achievement marks a defining moment in marathon running, reflecting the continued dominance of East African athletes in long-distance racing.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Kenyan athlete Sabastian Sawe has made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, crossing the line in one hour 59 minutes 30 seconds.
The 31-year-old’s performance shattered the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record of 2:00:35, set in 2023, by more than one minute. The great Eliud Kipchoge became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019, but that was not record-eligible as it was held under controlled conditions, making Sawe’s achievement the first sub-two-hour marathon in race conditions.
Sawe secured his place in history after maintaining world record pace throughout the race, crossing the halfway mark in 1:00:29 before speeding up over the second half to run even faster than Kipchoge’s time. He made his decisive move before the final 10km, with only debutant Yomif Kejelcha able to cover his surge off the front. Remarkably, Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, became the second man to run under two hours in race conditions, finishing runner-up in 1:59:41. Half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo also crossed the line faster than Kiptum’s former record, completing the podium in 2:00:28.
Speaking on BBC TV, Sawe described the achievement as a day to remember. “I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me”, Sawe said. “We started the race well. Approaching finishing the race, I was feeling strong. Finally reaching the finish line, I saw the time, and I was so excited”.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa improved her own world record for a women-only field as she surged clear of Kenyan rivals Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a thrilling finish to retain her title in 2:15:41.
Sawe’s achievement marks a defining moment in marathon running, reflecting the continued dominance of East African athletes in long-distance racing. His recognition highlights how Kenyan athletes are increasingly pushing the boundaries of human performance and elevating the nation’s profile on the world stage.