Kenyan Sebastian Sawi became the first runner to cover a marathon in less than two hours. He won the London Marathon on Sunday, with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Among women, Ethiopian Tigist Assefa (29 years old) broke her world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 41 seconds.

Published on: 04/26/2026 - 13:16 Last updated: 04/26/2026 - 13:31

Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawi became the first man to cover a marathon distance (42.195 kilometers) in less than two hours after his victory, Sunday, in London, with a time of one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

Sawi, 31 years old, who has never lost a marathon in which he has participated, broke the world record held by Kelvin Kiptom, who recorded two hours and 35 seconds in the Chicago Marathon in October 2023.

Ethiopian Yomif Kegelsha continued to chase Sawi throughout most of the race distance before he retreated in the final meters to take second place with a time of one hour, 59 minutes and 41 seconds, while Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo won the bronze medal in two hours, two minutes and 28 seconds.

Among women, Ethiopian Tigist Assefa (29 years old) broke her only world record during her victory in the London Marathon. The Ethiopian runner advanced over Kenyans Helen Obiri and Joycene Jepkosgei in the final stage of the race, crossing the finish line in two hours, 15 minutes and 41 seconds, breaking the record of two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds that she set last year in London.

In turn, the Swiss Marcel Hauge and Catherine Debrunner won the men's and women's wheelchair races, respectively.

France 24/Reuters

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