Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe becomes first person to run marathon in less than two hours
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe Makes History with Sub-Two-Hour Marathon
On April 26, 2026, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya achieved a milestone in athletics by becoming the first competitor to finish a marathon in under two hours. His time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds shattered the men’s world crecord by 65 seconds, setting a new benchmark in long-distance running.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia secured second place with a time of 1:59:41, marking his debut in the marathon. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda followed closely, completing the race in 2:00:28—a seven-second improvement over the previous world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
“What comes today is not for me alone,” said Sawe, “but for all of us today in London.”
The race saw Sawe pull ahead of Kejelcha after the 30-kilometer mark, then he surged ahead alone in the final two kilometers. The 29-year-old, who previously triumphed in the London Marathon, emphasized the collective effort behind the record.
Women’s Race Recap
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia claimed victory in the women’s marathon with a time of 2:15:41, defending her title in a new fastest-ever time for a women’s-only event. Her performance surpassed the previous record from the 2025 edition, though it was 16 seconds slower than Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 course record in a mixed race.
Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei finished just behind Assefa, with times of 2:15:53 and 2:15:55 respectively. Assefa’s 2:15:50 time in 2025 had already established her as a dominant force in the women’s category.
Wheelchair Racing Results
In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his sixth consecutive men’s title and eighth overall. His countrywoman, Catherine Debrunner, defended her women’s championship after a tight finish against Tatyana McFadden.
