After years of global obsession, lab‑backed experiments and near‑misses, the marathon’s ultimate barrier finally fell as Sawe obliterated the world record previously held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set a time of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia stayed on Sawe’s heels over much of the 42.195-kilometre course before fading down the final stretch to take second in his marathon debut with 1:59.41, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda took the bronze in 2:00.28, making for the most remarkable men’s marathon finish in history.
“I am feeling good, I am happy, it’s a day to remember for me,” Sawe told the BBC, holding up his shoe with “world record” and “sub-2” written on it in black marker pen.
“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. I think today shows me a lot the first (time) for everyone, and I am so happy for today. Coming to London for the second time was so important to me and that’s why I prepared well for it.”
Kiptum died in a car crash in 2024 in Kenya when he was just 24 years old.
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia broke her own women’s only world record en route to victory. The 29-year-old pulled away from Kenyans Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei down the home stretch to cross the finish line in 2:15.41 seconds, beating the record of 2:15.50 she set last year in London. “I’m so happy to win again, I want to thank God for giving me this victory, to repeat my victory from last year means even more. And so the happiness I feel is just welling up inside me,” Assefa told the BBC.
Obiri was second in 2:15.53, while Jepkosgei took the bronze in 2:15.55. Conditions were close to ideal for fast running, with mid‑teen temperatures in London and winds light to create the platform for the record times.
The sub‑two‑hour marathon has been one of sport’s biggest obsession for years, pursued through a series of highly engineered projects aimed at redefining human limits.
–Reuters–
