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Sawe, Assefa Set Marathon Records; Adidas Funds Tests

4/28/2026

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Summary

Sawe Breaks Record

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya ran 1:59:30 at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, breaking Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 record.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished second in 1:59:41, the fastest debut marathon.
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia set a women-only record of 2:15:41, nine seconds faster.
All three wore Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes (?97 g, US$500) while Adidas supplied US$50,000 for 25 extra drug tests on Sawe.

Summary

Adidas Sellout

Adidas' limited April 25 release of the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 sold out within an hour after the London Marathon.
Resale listings priced the shoe near $2,000, far above its $500 retail price.
Nike posted a congratulatory tweet to Adidas, adding a “Well done” comment on Sawe’s achievement.
Adidas disclosed that affiliate links on Rolling Stone generate commissions and that a broader launch is planned for the fall.

History

Historical Context

In 2017 Nike released the Vaporfly with a carbon-fiber plate, and after Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:39 win in the 2019 London Marathon, World Athletics issued 2020 rules limiting sole thickness to 40 mm, requiring a single plate and four-month retail availability. Those rules framed the 2026 London race where Kenyan Sebastian Sawe and Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha broke two hours in Adidas’ $500 Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.

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Sawe Breaks Record

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya ran 1:59:30 at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, breaking Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 record.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished second in 1:59:41, the fastest debut marathon.
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia set a women-only record of 2:15:41, nine seconds faster.
All three wore Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes (?97 g, US$500) while Adidas supplied US$50,000 for 25 extra drug tests on Sawe.

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