BackSPORTS
Sabastian Sawe becomes first to run sub-two-hour marathon at London Marathon
Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race. Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41 and Jacob Kiplimo third in 2:00:28. The event also featured Tigst Assefa’s women’s race world record in 2:15:41 and multiple wheelchair category wins.
Why It Matters
The sub-two-hour achievement in a competitive race redefines marathon benchmarks and may influence training, pacing, and record ambitions for years to come.
Timeline
9 Events
Rainbow-Cooper puncture affects start; late race start
April 26, 2026
Briton Eden Rainbow-Cooper entered the race after a pre-race puncture caused her to start late, impacting her podium chances.
Mahamed Mahamed 10th in men's race; second-fastest Briton
April 26, 2026
Mahamed Mahamed was the best-placed home athlete in the men's elite race, finishing 10th in 2:06:14 and becoming the second-fastest British man in history at the event.
British runners: McColgan 7th, Harvey 9th in women's race
April 26, 2026
Briton Eilish McColgan finished seventh in 2:24:51, and Rose Harvey finished ninth in 2:26:14, as British representation featured prominently in the women's race.
Marcel Hug wins men's wheelchair race in 1:24:13
April 26, 2026
Marcel Hug secured the men's wheelchair title in 1:24:13, his fifth consecutive London Marathon win and an eighth overall, tying David Weir's record for most wins at the event.
Catherine Debrunner wins elite women's wheelchair race in 1:38:29
April 26, 2026
Catherine Debrunner won the elite women's wheelchair title in 1:38:29, finishing just ahead of American Tatyana McFadden.
Tigst Assefa wins women's race in 2:15:41, women-only world record
April 26, 2026
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa won the women's race in 2:15:41, improving her own women-only world record and finishing ahead of Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Jacob Kiplimo finishes third in 2:00:28
April 26, 2026
Half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo crossed the line in 2:00:28, securing third place and finishing faster than Kelvin Kiptum’s former London Marathon record time.
Kejelcha finishes second with 1:59:41
April 26, 2026
Yomif Kejelcha finished runner-up in 1:59:41, becoming the second man to run under two hours in a race when conditions allow. His performance marked a rapid close to Sawe’s record bid.
Sawe breaks two-hour barrier with 1:59:30 at London Marathon
April 26, 2026
Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race. He reached the halfway mark in 1:00:29 and then sped up, posting a second-half of 59:01. He moved decisively before the final 10km, with debutant Yomif Kejelcha the only challenger to cover the surge, finishing second in 1:59:41 and Jacob Kiplimo close behind in 2:00:28. Sawe had previously targeted Kiptum's course record of 2:01:25 but achieved a faster time in London’s conditions. He noted the support of the crowd and added that what happened today is shared by many. He had undergone multiple drug tests, including 25 before Berlin, to maintain confidence in his performances.