Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe has clocked a historic 1:59:30 to win the 46th edition of the London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier in a standard race setting — subject to ratification.
The feat, if confirmed, would mark a watershed moment in marathon history, eclipsing his previous personal best of 2:02:05 by a significant margin.
While Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, that effort was not recognised as an official record due to controlled conditions.
Sunday’s race drew about 59,000 runners across elite and amateur categories, underlining its stature as one of the world’s biggest road races.
In the women’s elite race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title with a commanding 2:15:41 finish.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race, while compatriot Catherine Debrunner claimed the women’s crown.
The 42.2km course passed through Greenwich, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf, before finishing on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.
Organisers say Sawe’s time will undergo standard verification, but early indications suggest the run could redefine the limits of elite marathon performance.
