Kiplimo finishes third as Sawe shatters two-hour barrier in London Marathon
Sawe stormed to victory in a remarkable time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, holding off a fierce late challenge from Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also dipped under the two-hour mark in 1:59:41.
(L-R) Runner-up Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, winner, Kenya's Sabastian Sawe and third place Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo pose after the men's race at the 2026 London Marathon in central London on April 26, 2026. Kenya's Sabastian Sawe broke the two-hour mark for the first time in history on Sunday in winning the London Marathon. AFP PHOTO
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo delivered a strong performance to finish third in a marathon for the ages, as Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe made history by becoming the first man to officially break the two-hour barrier at the London Marathon on Sunday.
Sawe stormed to victory in a remarkable time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, holding off a fierce late challenge from Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also dipped under the two-hour mark in 1:59:41.
Kiplimo crossed the line in 2:00:28, securing third place in a race that rewrote the record books.
All three athletes finished faster than the previous men’s world record of 2:00:35, set in 2023 by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago, underlining the extraordinary pace of this year’s race.
(L-R) 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon winner Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, second place finisher Amos Kipruto of Kenya, and third place finisher Alex Masai of Kenya pose for a photo on October 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP PHOTO
While Kenya’s legendary Eliud Kipchoge famously ran 1:59:40 in 2019, that performance was not officially recognised due to controlled conditions, including specialised pacing and equipment. Sawe’s run, by contrast, came in open competition, marking a historic milestone for the sport.
Pre-race expectations had already hinted at something special. Sawe, wearing Adidas’s ultra-light Pro Evo 3 “supershoe,” had signalled his intent to chase both the course and world records.
The pace was relentless from the outset. A lead group of six runners passed the halfway mark in 1:00:29, setting the tone for what would become a record-breaking day. As the race unfolded, Sawe and Kejelcha broke away from the pack, locking into a tense duel through the closing stages.
With the finish line approaching, Sawe found another gear, surging ahead to seal a landmark victory and cement his place in marathon history.
For Kiplimo, the third-place finish represents another significant achievement on the global stage, reinforcing Uganda’s continued presence among the world’s elite distance runners in an era of unprecedented performance.