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Record 1.34 M Marathon Applicants; Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier

5/6/2026

47 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A record 1,338,544 people applied for the 2027 London Marathon, the highest ballot total ever recorded.
Male and female registrations were nearly equal among the applicants.
Sabastian Sawe became the first runner to break two hours in a competitive race, finishing in 1:59:30.
Organisers reported 59,830 finishers, a participation record, and are studying a two-day format for 2027 to meet demand.

History

Historical Context

After Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 Ineos 1:59 Challenge first shattered the sub-two-hour marathon barrier, the record-eligible breakthrough came in 2026 when Sebastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha ran 1:59:30 and 1:59:41 at the London Marathon. Anticipating 1,338,544 applicants for 2027, UK Athletics is weighing a two-day race that could host up to 200,000 runners daily.

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Story summary

A record 1,338,544 people applied for the 2027 London Marathon, the highest ballot total ever recorded.
Male and female registrations were nearly equal among the applicants.
Sabastian Sawe became the first runner to break two hours in a competitive race, finishing in 1:59:30.
Organisers reported 59,830 finishers, a participation record, and are studying a two-day format for 2027 to meet demand.

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