Story perspectives

Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier; Assefa Sets Women’s Record

4/28/2026

Summary

Sawe Sub-Two

Sabastian Kimaru Sawe ran the 2026 London Marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, becoming the first sub-two-hour marathoner.
Yomif Kejelcha finished 11 seconds later, also under two hours and beating Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 Chicago record of 2 hours 35 seconds.
Tigist Assefa set a women’s world record of 2 hours 15 minutes 41 seconds in the same race.
All three athletes wore Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which will sell for $500 exclusively via the company’s app.

Summary

Sawe Confirms Clean

Adidas paid $50,000 to World Athletics’ Integrity Unit for 25 anti-doping tests on Sawe, equipping him with a 3.4-ounce foam shoe.
Sawe said the testing proved he “was not to be doubted,” stressing his credibility.
Kenya’s marathon community faces a doping crisis with 140 runners suspended and Ruth Chepngetich testing positive in summer 2025.
The London race featured a breakaway that dropped after 25 km, leaving Sawe to run a 59:01 second half.

Summary

Adidas Shares Surge

Adidas shares rose 2 percent in early Frankfurt trading on Monday after the marathon.
The company's stock is down about 18 percent in 2026 because of economic and geopolitical worries.
CEO Bjorn Gulden says the firm will seek higher profit from performance gear and reduce reliance on fashion items such as the Samba.
Adidas markets a $150 Adizero Evo SL sneaker while Hellen Obiri wore On’s US$330 LightSpray Cloudboom Strike robot-produced laceless shoe.

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Sawe Sub-Two

Sabastian Kimaru Sawe ran the 2026 London Marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, becoming the first sub-two-hour marathoner.
Yomif Kejelcha finished 11 seconds later, also under two hours and beating Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 Chicago record of 2 hours 35 seconds.
Tigist Assefa set a women’s world record of 2 hours 15 minutes 41 seconds in the same race.
All three athletes wore Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which will sell for $500 exclusively via the company’s app.

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