Defending champion, Sebastian Sawe of Kenya, on Sunday broke the world record in men’s marathon, winning the London Marathon in a new world record of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
Sawe broke his compatriot Kelvin Kiptum’s old record of 2:00.35, becoming the first man to run the marathon in under two hours in a competitive race.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race during London Marathon in London, Britain, on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Matthew Childs | Reuters
The late Kiptum set the old record of 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Kiptum died in a road accident on February 11, 2024.
The Kapsabet-based Sawe dictated the pace of the race in the last dying moments and cruised home unchallenged.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who pushed Sawe to the last kilometre, also ran the race in under two hours on his debut over the distance, clocking 1:59:41 to take second place.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates after winning the men's elite race with second place Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha and third place Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo.
Photo credit: Matthew Childs | Reuters
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo sealed the podium positions in 2:00:28, which was inside Kiptum’s old record.
Sawe, who trains under the 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County, attempted to break the world record in the 2025 edition of the race, but high temperatures in London in the second half of the race slowed him down. He eventually crossed the finish line in 2:02:16.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finished second after clocking a personal best of 2:15:53 in a race won by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in 2:15:41, which is a women-only world record.
Another Kenyan runner in the women’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei, finished in third position.
