Sabastian Sawe Smashes Two-Hour World Record in London Marathon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe broke the world record after finishing the 2026 London Marathon in under two hours, specifically 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.

"We started the race well, and at the end of the race, I was feeling strong," said Sabastian Sawe, as quoted by ESPN on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Sawe's incredible time shaved 65 seconds off the previous record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set it at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Sawe's record was also 10 seconds faster than Eliud Kipchoge's 2019 time, which is not recognized as an official record because it was not run in an open competition and required the assistance of a pacemaker.

This result marked Sawe's second appearance at the London Marathon, and the runner said he "prepared well" for the run.

“I was very prepared because coming to London for the second time was so important to me, and that’s why I prepared well for it," he said.

Conditions in London were ideal, with the men starting the race at a very fast pace. Sawe was even under the world record pace by the 10-kilometer mark, before the pace of the leading group slowed slightly near the Cutty Sark.

The main contenders were still running in a group for the next five kilometers, and by the half-marathon mark, Sawe had clocked a time of 1 hour and 29 seconds.

Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha then began to pull away from Jacob Kiplimo, who was two seconds behind the leaders at the 30-kilometer mark. The next five kilometers saw the two leading runners widen the gap.

Just when it seemed the course record was all that was left, Sawe found extra speed, increased his pace, and raced to write a new history.

This victory also allowed Sawe to retain the London Marathon title he won in 2025.

A new record was also set in the women's event, when Tigst Assefa successfully defended her London Marathon title by setting a world record for the women's race of 2 hours 15 minutes 41 seconds, although that record, like Sawe's, is still awaiting official approval.

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