Kenya's Sabastian Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier to Win London Marathon

Kenyan athlete Sabastian Sawe won the men's elite race at the London Marathon, setting a world record time of 1:59:30. This marks the first official sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race. Sawe, 29, from Kenya, finished 30 seconds under the two-hour mark.

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa won the women's race with a time of 2:15:41, breaking her own world record. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia placed second in the men's race with a time of 1:59:41, also under two hours. Sawe's time surpassed the previous official record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum.

The race occurred under perfect conditions, with athletes wearing advanced supershoes. Sawe attributed his success to strong crowd support and competitive pacing from fellow runners. He trains at altitude in western Kenya, seeing his family only twice a month.

Sawe has won all four marathons he has entered, including his London debut last year. He emphasized his commitment to clean athletics, having undergone 25 doping tests before a previous race. The event drew large crowds, with cheers boosting the runners' performance.

“I saw the time and I was so excited. First of all, I want to thank the crowds. A teacher once told Sawe that running was his fortune. The runner hails from a remote highland village without electricity. In the women's race, Assefa retained her crown, improving on her previous record. Sources agreed on the times and the historical significance of breaking the two-hour barrier in an official setting, contrasting with Eliud Kipchoge's unofficial 1:59:40 in 2019. The London Marathon also featured personal stories, such as a political editor completing the race to raise funds for a hospice. Sawe described the achievement as shared with all participants and spectators in London.”

Sawe has advocated for regular testing in athletics.