Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made probably the most of his London Marathon run on the weekend, changing into the primary individual ever to formally full a 26.2-mile (42.195km) race in lower than 2 hours.
Whereas fellow Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge had earned a time of 1:59: 40 on the INEOS 1:59 Problem in Vienna again in 2019, his lofty feat couldn’t be ratified as a world document as a result of guidelines round pacing and fluids had not been adopted. Kipchoge had acquired drinks from an unofficial supply throughout his efforts, making him ineligible for the official bragging rights. As Sabastian Sawe raced the London Marathon, he was not solely on tempo to interrupt Kipchoge’s document as he crossed the midway level, however he additionally accelerated within the second half and took a whopping 10 seconds off Kipchoge’s unofficial time on the end line.
How the London Marathon 2026 Produced the First Official Sub-2 Hour Time
There will need to have been one thing within the water at these official London Marathon consuming stations as a result of Yomif Kejelcha, an Ethiopian athlete making his London Marathon debut, grew to become the runner-up with one other sub-two-hour time of 1:59:41, only one second shy of Sawe’s world beating race.
The document setting time was set by Sabastian Sawe whereas working in a pair of Adidas Adizero Adios Professional Evo 3’s. Beforehand, M&F has reported how these working sneakers are breaking information and are super-light, and this newest iteration weighs lower than 100g.
Sawe’s rise to working prominence has been extraordinary. He made his marathon debut in Valencia in 2024 and earned a time of two:02:05. In 2002, Kelvin Kiptrum set a brand new document on the London Marathon with 2:01:25. “I’m feeling good. I’m so glad. It’s a day to recollect for me,” Sawe instructed the BBC after making additional historical past in London on April 26, 2026. “We began the race effectively. Approaching ending the race, I used to be feeling robust. Lastly reaching the end line, I noticed the time, and I used to be so excited.”
To observe Sabastian Sawe on Instagram, click on right here.