Sawe smashes two-hour mark to ‘move goalposts for marathon running’

Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race.

The 30-year-old Kenyan crossed the line to win in one hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds, more than one minute faster than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record of 2:00:35, set in 2023.

The great 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.

Already on world record pace as he crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:29, Sawe was able to speed up over the second half of the race to run even faster than Kipchoge’s time.

Sawe made his decisive move before the final 10km, with only debutant Yomif Kejelcha able to cover his surge off the front.

Remarkably, Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, became the second man to run under two hours in race conditions, finishing runner-up in 1:59:41.

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, speaking on BBC TV, said: “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.”

How Sawe achieved sporting immortality in London

Much of the focus beforehand had been about Sawe – winner of last year’s race in 2:02:27 – targeting Kiptum’s London Marathon course record of 2:01:25.

He told BBC Sport this week that it was “only a matter of time” before he broke Kiptum’s world record, adding “I hope and wish one day [it will be me]” when asked about becoming the first person to run under two hours in a race.

Sawe had targeted Kiptum’s world record in Berlin last September, when he went through halfway in 60:16, before that bid was ultimately undone by the hot weather.

But, in perfect race conditions in London, Sawe stormed down The Mall to achieve that historic feat, doing so in a time which was once considered impossible. (BBC)