Sebastian Sawe wins London Marathon in RECORD-BREAKING sub-two-hour feat

Sebastian Sawe has written himself into the record books after becoming the first athlete to run a marathon in less than two hours.

Sawe achieved the jaw-dropping feat during Sunday’s London Marathon, running the course in one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

The 30-year-old Kenyan’s time is more than a minute faster than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record of 2:00:35, set in 2023.

Eliud Kipchoge became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019, but that was not record-eligible as it was held under controlled conditions.

While Sawe has taken the plaudits following victory, marathon debutant Yomif Kejelcha completed the distance in under two hours too – doing so in 1:59:41.

As well as those two half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo also crossed the line faster than Kiptum’s former record, completing the podium in 2:00:28.

Sawe, who won last year’s race in 2:02:27, told the BBC afterwards: ‘I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me.

‘We started the race well. Approaching finishing the race, I was feeling strong. Finally reaching the finish line, I saw the time, and I was so excited.’

Elsewhere in the London Marathon

In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa reasserted her dominance over 26.2miles as the Ethopian retained her title and improved own world record by doing so in 2:15:41.

In the elite men’s wheelchair race, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug cruised to a record-equalling eighth London Marathon victory to tie Great Britain’s David Weir.

Hug’s Swiss compatriot Catherine Debrunner also retained the elite women’s wheelchair title after bursting clear of American Tatyana McFadden in the closing stages.