Sabastian Sawe of Kenya became the first runner to officially break the two-hour barrier in a marathon, finishing the London Marathon on Sunday in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds. His record-setting time shattered the previous world record by an astonishing 65 seconds, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
Sabastian Sawe became the first official runner to break the two-hour marathon barrier at the London Marathon. He finished in 1:59:30, edging out Yomif Kejelcha by 11 seconds.
- Sabastian Sawe of Kenya wins London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30
- Yomif Kejelcha finishes second in his marathon debut at 1:59:41
- Jacob Kiplimo sets third-fastest marathon time at 2:00:28
- Sawe's record is the first official sub-two-hour marathon
- Both winners credit advanced running shoes and rigorous training
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished just 11 seconds behind Sawe in his marathon debut, clocking a time of 1:59:41. Despite not winning, Kejelcha expressed happiness with his performance and the historic achievement. "I'm very, very happy because I broke two hours," he told NPR.
The race also saw Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo break the previous world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023, finishing third with a time of 2:00:28. Both Sawe and Kejelcha credited their success to advanced running shoes, rigorous training, and supportive coaches. Sawe told BBC Sport that he believes improving his time is "only a matter of time."
The London Marathon marked the first official sub-two-hour marathon since Eliud Kipchoge's 2019 achievement in Vienna, which was not recognized due to non-standard race conditions. This year's event also saw record-breaking performances in the women's race and wheelchair categories.
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