Sawe becomes first man to break two-hour mark in marathon

Sabastian Sawe has won the London Marathon in a world record time, becoming the first person in history to officially record a sub-two-hour race.

The Kenyan won the race 12 months ago and successfully defended his title but more importantly he crossed the finish line in a time of one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

His incredible run wiped 65 seconds off the previous record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who did so at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Sawe's time is 10 seconds quicker than Eliud Kipchoge’s record in 2019 – which was not recognised as official because it was not in open competition and he was assisted by pacemakers.

Ireland's Peter Lynch produced a super run, breaking his own Irish record to come home ninth in 2:06.08.

The 28-year-old's previous best was 2:09:36. He has broken Fearghal Curtin's national record (2:07:54) which was set last October in South Korea.

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 2:02.28.

Kiptum died in a ‌car crash in 2024 in Kenya when he was just 24 years old.

Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia also ⁠broke her own women's only world record in winning the women's race.

The 29-year-old ‌pulled ⁠away from Kenyans Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei down the home stretch to ‌cross the finish line in ⁠two hours ‌15 minutes and 41 seconds, beating ⁠the ‌record of 2:15.50 she set last year ⁠in London.

Obiri was second ⁠in 2:15.53, while Jepkosgei took the bronze in 2:15.55.

Additional reporting: Reuters