Sawe smashes 2-hour mark setting record at London Marathon

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has made history in London as the first man to run a marathon in under two hours. He beat the world record by more than a minute.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has become the first person to run a marathon in under two hours.

The 30-year-old set the milestone by winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday, breaking the previous record.

The time for the 26.2 miles (42.2km) distance was 65 seconds faster than the mark set by fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.

It was also 10 seconds quicker than Eliud Kipchoge's time from 2019 in Vienna. That finish was not recognized as an official record because it was not in open competition and the Kenyan was assisted by pacemakers.

Another record set in women's race

There was also record-breaking performance in the women's race, where Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her title in 2 hours 15 minutes and 41 seconds — the fastest time ever in a women’s-only race. Assefa had pulled ahead in the final 500 meters.

The mark was 16 seconds slower than the overall course record set by Briton Paula Radcliffe in 2003 in a mixed race.

In the wheelchair events, Switzerland secured a double as Marcel Hug claimed a sixth straight men's title and eighth overall, while Catherine Debrunner edged out Tatyana McFadden to retain the women's crown.

Edited by Sean Sinico