A seismic moment in long-distance running unfolded at the 2026 London Marathon this Sunday as Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe etched his name into history books with a stunning victory.
Sawe clocked an astonishing 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete ever to run a sub-2-hour marathon in official competition—a feat long considered nearly impossible under race conditions as he surpasses the world record set in Chicago by his compatriot, the late Kevin Kiptum, by 65 seconds in 2023.
Hot on his heels was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also delivered a historic performance, finishing second in 1:59:41, making it one of the fastest duels ever witnessed over the 42.195km distance.
Uganda made a powerful statement in the elite field as Jacob Kiplimo secured third place with an impressive 2:00:28 and Joshua Cheptegei finished ninth in 2:06:39, continuing his transition into marathon racing.
The performances were widely celebrated, with notable Ugandan voices highlighting the country’s growing dominance in global distance running.
Sawe’s groundbreaking run not only redefines the limits of human endurance but also signals a new era in marathon competition where the once-elusive two-hour barrier has finally fallen on the sport’s biggest stage.
