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Kenya's Sawe storms to victory in London Marathon
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race at the London Marathon on April 27, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Sawe, who is the reigning world half marathon champion, won the race in two hours, 02 minutes and 27 seconds.
- Defending champion Alexander Mutiso edged out Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands to claim third place.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe took charge of the race with 12 kilometres to go to win the 2025 London Marathon in the second fastest time this season on Sunday in the British capital city.
Running only his second marathon race after winning in Valencia in December, Sawe, who is the reigning world half marathon champion, won the race in two hours, 02 minutes and 27 seconds.
Sawe relegated half marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo to second place. Kiplimo, who was making his marathon debut, finished second in 2:03:37.
Defending champion Alexander Mutiso edged out Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands in a thrilling photo-finish to claim third place time of 2:04:20.
Kenya's Alexander Mutiso crosses the finish line for third place in the men's elite race at the London Marathon ahead of fourth placed Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands.
Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia came in fifth in 2:04:52 as the two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, who was eying his fifth London Marathon victory, settled for sixth 2:05:25.
Ethiopia's Milkesa Megesha and Timothy Kiplagat from Kenya lead through 5kms and 10kms in 14:25 and 28:57 respectively with a projected finish time of 2:02.
Then Kipchoge, the four-time winner in London, led the pack of nine athletes through 15km in 43.36 with compatriots Kiplagat, Mutiso, Sawe and Kiplimo in the mix.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates after winning the men's elite race at the London Marathon with second placed Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and third placed Alexander Mutiso of Kenya.
Pacesetters all dropped out as surprise entry in the leading pack, Amanal Petros from Germany, surged to the front and went through the halfway mark in 1:01:30.
Then Sawe who stepped on the gas pedal, dragging along the pack of nine through 25km in 1:13:00 with the pace increasing towards the 30km mark as Kipchoge dropped off the pace.
