Sebastian Sawe breaks new ground with historic sub-two-hour marathon

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe delivered a landmark performance at the London Marathon, becoming the first runner to complete the distance in under two hours during an official race setting.

The 31-year-old clocked 1:59:30 to secure victory, shaving more than a minute off the previous best mark of 2:00:35 set in 2023 by Kenyan long-distance runner Kelvin Kiptum. Although renowned Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge had previously dipped below the two-hour barrier in 2019, that run took place under controlled conditions and was not recognized for record purposes.

Sawe set the tone early, reaching the halfway point in just over an hour and maintaining a relentless pace through the latter stages. He increased his speed in the second half, pulling clear before the final 10 kilometers to decisively break away from the field.

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, competing in his first marathon, stayed closest to Sawe and finished second in 1:59:41, also under the two-hour mark. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28, another time faster than the previous world record.

Speaking after the race, Sawe expressed his excitement, describing the achievement as a memorable milestone. “I want to thank the crowds for cheering us. I think they help a lot, because if it were not for them, you don't feel how much you are loved,” Sawe said. In a post-match interview, Sawe also said that the historic moment “will remain in my mind forever.”

The result caps a rapid rise for Sawe, who had already signaled his ambitions to challenge the world record. After narrowly missing the mark in Berlin last year due to difficult conditions, he capitalized on favorable weather in London to deliver a performance widely regarded as historic. “The weather was very favorable, and that is why it helped us run well today,” Sawe said.

Kenya’s president, William Ruto, hailed Sebastian Sawe for what he described as a “performance of rare brilliance” following the athlete’s record-shattering victory. In a post on his official X account, President Ruto praised Sawe for not only securing a historic win but also redefining the limits of human endurance by breaking the world record and surpassing the two-hour barrier, an achievement widely regarded as one of the most elusive milestones in marathon running.

“This is more than a win; it is a defining moment,” Ruto wrote, adding that Sawe’s triumph cements his place among the all-time greats in global athletics and reinforces Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running. Ruto said the achievements of the Kenyan runners have lifted Kenya’s flag high and inspired millions, both at home and abroad. “You have reminded the world of the power of determination,” he said. “We are proud.”

Sawe, who remains unbeaten across his marathon appearances, credited the crowd support for helping drive his performance. His sub-two-hour finish in a competitive race is expected to mark a turning point for the sport, raising the benchmark for elite marathon running worldwide.