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Sabastian Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier at London Marathon

4/29/2026

25 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya set a marathon world record, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30, the first sub-two-hour finish.
Yomif Kejelcha (1:59:41) and Jacob Kiplimo (2:00:28) also beat the 2:00:35 record.
Sawe’s prize of £263,000 and potential $1 million in sponsorships will fund a house, car, church and family travel.
He wore Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, 97 g, $500, with a carbon-ring energy-return system.

History

Historical Context

In 2019 Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, an exhibition that broke the two-hour marathon barrier but was not ratified by World Athletics. Six years later, Sabastian Sawe recorded 1:59:30 at the 2026 London Marathon under record-eligible rules, confirming that high-tech pacing and footwear now turn once-impossible targets into official milestones.

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Story summary

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya set a marathon world record, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30, the first sub-two-hour finish.
Yomif Kejelcha (1:59:41) and Jacob Kiplimo (2:00:28) also beat the 2:00:35 record.
Sawe’s prize of £263,000 and potential $1 million in sponsorships will fund a house, car, church and family travel.
He wore Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, 97 g, $500, with a carbon-ring energy-return system.

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