Sabastian Sawe sets new world record with historic 1:59:30 at London Marathon
A truly historic performance lit up the streets of London as Sabastian Sawe delivered one of the greatest marathon runs ever recorded, winning the men’s elite race at the 2026 London Marathon in a staggering 1:59:30 - breaking the world record and becoming the first man to run under two hours in an official race setting.
From the early stages, the pace suggested something special was unfolding. As the race progressed, it became clear that Sawe was not just racing for victory, but for history. Locked in a thrilling duel with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha deep into the latter stages, the Kenyan gradually pulled away with a decisive surge that no one could match.
Kejelcha, widely seen as an outsider before the race, delivered a sensational performance of his own to finish second in 1:59:41, also dipping under the two-hour barrier in a remarkable breakthrough run. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed an extraordinary podium, clocking a massive personal best of 2:00:28 to secure third place in one of the fastest marathon races ever assembled.
The top three men all ran faster than the previous marathon world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.
Men Top Results
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabastian Sawe | KEN | 1:59:30 |
| 2 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 1:59:41 |
| 3 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 2:00:28 |
| 4 | Amos Kipruto | KEN | 2:01:39 |
| 5 | Tamirat Tola | ETH | 2:02:59 |
| 6 | Deresa Geleta | ETH | 2:03:23 |
| 7 | Addisu Gobena | ETH | 2:05:23 |
| 8 | Geoffrey Kamworor | KEN | 2:05:38 |
| 9 | Peter Lynch | IRL | 2:06:08 |
| 10 | Mahamed Mahamed | GBR | 2:06:14 |
Sawe’s performance marks the first men’s world record in London since 2002, rewriting the history books in emphatic fashion and setting a new benchmark for the marathon distance.
