Trending Now - Kenyan Runner Sabastian Sawe Makes History With Sub-2-hour Marathon Win in London

WHO:

NPR - Sabastian Sawe is 29 years old.

Boston.com - Sabastian Sawe of Kenya

NPR - Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia

NPR - Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda

NPR - Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia

NPR - Marcel Hug

NPR - Catherine Debrunner

NPR - Tatyana McFadden

WHAT:

Runner's World - Sawe's time of 1:59:30 shattered Kelvin Kiptum’s previous world record of 2:00:35 by 65 seconds.

Runner's World - Sawe's time was quicker than Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 from the INEOS 1:59 Challenge exhibition race in 2019.

Runner's World - Sawe wore the $500 Pro Evo 3 racing shoe, which Adidas claims is the lightest and fastest racing shoe they have ever created, weighing an average of just 97 grams (3.42 ounces).

Runner's World - The Pro Evo 3 will be available on April 27 at 10 a.m. in limited supply.

Runner's World - The first edition of the Pro Evo made headlines in 2023 for its $500 price tag and limited supply, with just 521 pairs initially released.

Boston.com - Sawe became the first person to break the 2-hour barrier in the marathon at an officially sanctioned race.

NPR - The marathon marked the first time two African runners finished under 2 hours in the same race.

Boston.com - Sawe won the London Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.

NPR - The second-place finisher, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, finished in 1:59:41 in his first-ever marathon.

NPR - Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished in 2:00:28, breaking the previous world record by seven seconds.

NPR - Tigst Assefa won the women's race in 2:15:41, the fastest-ever time in a women's-only marathon.

NPR - Sawe retained his title in London, having previously won the marathon.

NPR - The marathon marked the first time the two-hour threshold was broken at an officially sanctioned race.

NPR - Yomif Kejelcha finished his first-ever marathon in 1:59:41.

NPR - Jacob Kiplimo broke the previous world record by seven seconds, finishing in 2:00:28.

Boston.com - Sawe won the London Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.

NPR - Sawe became the first person to run a sub-2-hour marathon.

NPR - Sawe smashed the men's world record by 65 seconds.

NPR - Kejelcha finished second with a time of 1:59:41, also under 2 hours.

NPR - Kiplimo finished third with a time of 2:00:28, breaking the previous world record by seven seconds.

NPR - Assefa won the women's race in 2:15:41, the fastest-ever time in a women's-only marathon.

NPR - Assefa's time was 16 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003.

WHERE:

Boston.com - London Marathon, London, UK

NPR - The Mall, London, UK

WHEN:

Boston.com - The marathon took place on a Sunday.

NPR - Sawe ran the second half of the marathon in 59 minutes and 1 second.

WHY:

NPR - Sawe expressed gratitude to the crowds, stating, "What comes today is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London."

HOW:

Runner's World - Adidas worked closely with athletes and tested the Pro Evo 3 in various locations, including high-altitude camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, measuring details down to the nearest nanogram.

NPR - Sawe made his solo break in the final two kilometers as he sprinted along the finish on The Mall.

NPR - Sawe ran the second half of the marathon in 59 minutes and 1 second, pulling clear with Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and making a solo break in the final two kilometers.

NPR - Sawe pulled clear with Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and made a solo break in the final two kilometers.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 11:29 UTC)

In a stunning achievement, Sawe has set a new world record in the marathon with a time of 1:59:30, breaking Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record by an impressive 65 seconds. Notably, Sawe's time also surpassed Eliud Kipchoge’s legendary 1:59:40 from the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019, showcasing the remarkable advancements in marathon performance. This record-breaking run was made possible with the help of Adidas' new Pro Evo 3 racing shoe, which, weighing just 97 grams, will be available in limited supply starting April 27 at 10 a.m.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 09:37 UTC)

In a historic moment for athletics, Sawe has become the first person to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon at an officially sanctioned race. This remarkable event also marked the first time that two African runners finished under two hours in the same race. Sawe made his solo break in the final two kilometers, sprinting along the finish on The Mall to achieve this incredible feat.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 01:22 UTC)

In an incredible display of athleticism, Sawe won the London Marathon with a remarkable time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, while Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia claimed second place in his debut marathon, finishing in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda also made headlines by breaking the previous world record, finishing in 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 28 seconds. On the women's side, Tigst Assefa set a new record for the fastest-ever time in a women's-only marathon, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 21:06 UTC)

Sawe successfully retained his title in London, having previously won the marathon. This year's race was historic, as it marked the first time the two-hour threshold was broken at an officially sanctioned marathon. The achievement has set a new standard in long-distance running, showcasing the incredible advancements in athletic performance.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 17:09 UTC)

In an impressive display of athleticism, Jacob Kiplimo shattered the previous world record for the marathon, finishing with a time of 2:00:28, while Yomif Kejelcha completed his first-ever marathon in an impressive 1:59:41. Sabastian Sawe, who is 29 years old, expressed his gratitude to the crowds, saying, "What comes today is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London," after his remarkable performance. Sawe ran the second half of the marathon in just 59 minutes and 1 second, pulling ahead with Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and making a decisive solo break in the final two kilometers.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 15:10 UTC)

In a historic achievement, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon, finishing with a groundbreaking time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, making him the first person to run a sub-2-hour marathon and smashing the men's world record by 65 seconds. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia took second place with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished third, breaking the previous world record by seven seconds with a time of 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 28 seconds. In the women's race, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia claimed victory with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds, marking the fastest-ever time in a women's-only marathon, just 16 seconds shy of the overall course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003.