The sleepy village of Ndonyongaria in Chesumei Constituency, Nandi County, came to life with jubilation on Sunday when news trickled in that Sebastian Sawe had broken the world record at the London Marathon in the United Kingdom.
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 competitive conditions.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race and setting a new world record with a time of 01:59:30 at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Matthew Childs | Reuters
After the race, neighbours and relatives who had joined Sawe’s parents, Simon and Emily, at the family home to follow the race live on TV from London, broke into song and dance. Sawe’s parents said their son had hinted to them that he would attempt the world record if conditions allow.
“We are so excited about what our son has done today. He has made history. Running the marathon in under two hours is not a joke. He has made us so proud today,” Simon, himself a former athlete, said.
The new Marathon World Record Holder, Sebastian Sawe's parents, Simon Sawe and Emily Sawe, during celebrations at their home in Ndonyongaria, Nandi County, following his triumph at the London Marathon, where he set the new record of 1:59:30, breaking the late Kelvin Kiptum's record of 2:00:35, on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
“When he finished the race, I couldn’t believe it. I just walked out of the house and cried tears of joy. We are happy as a family, and as a community, and we really thank God for giving him strength……we shall continue praying for him to continue working hard and to continue excelling,” Sawe’s father, Simon, said.
“We had gone to church and upon coming back, I enquired from my younger son how Sabastian was faring in the race, and he informed me that our son had encountered a threat from an Ethiopian runner. After a while, my son alerted me that Sabastian had taken the lead. We started celebrating,” Ms Emilly said, tears of joy rolling down her face.
She said that before leaving for London last week, her son had asked her to pray for him.
“I used to run, but I dropped athletics at an early stage. I used to run the 100m in the early 90s. As a young girl, I competed at the same time as (marathoner) Sally Barsosio…I regret it now, but I’m happy because my son has made us proud,” Sawe’s mother Emilly added.
As at 7pm on Sunday, neighbours were still streaming into the family home to join the family in celebrations.
Running only the fourth marathon race of his career, defending champion Sawe broke the world record in a jaw-dropping 1: 59.30.
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 competitive conditions. Kiptum, a prodigious talent whose life was cut short in a road accident on February 11, 2024, at Kaptagat in Elgeyo Marakwet County, set the old record of 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. The Kapsabet-based Sawe dictated the pace of the race in the 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. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo sealed the podium positions in 2:00:28, which was faster than Kiptum’s old record.
The new Marathon World Record Holder Sabastian Sawe's parents Simon Sawe (with club left), and Emily Sawe, together with relatives, neighbours and friends, during celebrations at their home in Ndonyongaria, Nandi County following his triumph at the London Marathon where he set the new record of 1:59:30.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Sawe, 30, trains under the 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County. He had attempted to break the world record in last year’s race, but high temperatures in London in the second half of the competition 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 the women-only world record. Another Kenyan runner in the women’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei, finished third in 2:15.55.
Sawe started his marathon career at the 2024 Valencia Marathon, winning in 2:02:05. He won the 2025 London Marathon in 2:02:27 ahead of Kiplimo.
Sawe, who trains under the 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County, attempted the world record at the 2025 Berlin Marathon race, but high temperatures slowed him down in the second half of the race. He won in 2:02:16.
Before leaving Nairobi for London last week, Sawe told Nation Sport that marathon running was fast changing, with the younger generation taking over.
“If you look at the trend now, many athletes have been winning marathon races in 2hours and two minutes. That means the race is changing. I must pay tribute to the world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, who showed us that there is another side to marathon running, and we don’t have to fear,” Sawe told Nation Sport on Tuesday.
Born 30 years ago in Barsombe, Uasin Gishu County, Sawe attended Ndonyongaria and Barsombe primary schools, where his athletics talent became evident. Upon sitting his Form Four exams in 2015 at the Leseru High School in Uasin Gishu County, Sawe embarked on serious training, with the aim of one day becoming an award-winning marathoner.
Italian coach Claudio Berardelli took him, and he started competing in 800m and 1,500m races. Coach Berardelli has produced some of the best Kenyan middle and long distance runners, among them the 800m Olympics and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, former London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, and former Boston and New York City Marathon champion Evans Chebet. Sawe started competing in 800m and 1,500m races in 2017. He spent most of his time in the company of road runners, and he soon started competing in road races.
On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge ran 42km in under two hours in a highly choreographed race dubbed “Ineos 1:59 Challenge.” The race was designed to show that human ability is not limited. Kipchoge timed 1:59:40.2, but it was not recognised as a world record by World Athletics.
