Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe clocks 1:59:30 to shatter marathon world record

Sabastian Sawe has secured his place in sporting history by becoming the first person to complete a marathon in under two hours during an official competition. The Kenyan athlete crossed the finish line at the 2026 London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30, taking more than a minute off the previous world record.

The performance at the London Marathon marks the first time the sub-two-hour barrier has been surpassed under World Athletics regulations. Sawe maintained a high pace throughout the course, passing the halfway mark in 1:00:29 before accelerating during the final stages of the race.

The race saw a high level of competition from the start. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, making his debut at the marathon distance, also finished under the previous world record mark. Kejelcha took second place with a time of 1:59:41, establishing a new record for the fastest-ever marathon debut.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in third place, finishing in 2:00:28. This time also fell below the former world record of 2:00:35, which had been set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Sawe, who is 30 years old, surged ahead of the leading group after the 30 kilometer mark. He managed to pull away from Kejelcha in the final two kilometers, sprinting toward the finish line on The Mall near Buckingham Palace to seal the historic victory.

The 2026 edition of the London Marathon has effectively rewritten the record books for distance running. Beyond Sawe’s achievement, the depth of the field was evident as multiple runners surpassed times that were previously considered the limits of human endurance in competitive road racing.

The previous milestone for a sub-two-hour marathon was Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 in 2019. However, that effort took place in a controlled environment with rotating pacemakers and was not recognized as an official world record by World Athletics. Sawe’s result now stands as the definitive global standard.

President Ruto and various sports officials have lauded the achievement, which continues Kenya’s long-standing dominance in global distance running. The victory reinforces the country’s reputation for producing elite athletes capable of pushing the boundaries of the sport on the world stage.

In the women's elite race, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia successfully defended her title, finishing in 2:15:41. While her time set a new record for a women-only marathon, the spotlight remained firmly on the men's race and the fall of the two-hour barrier.