Kenya’s Sawe broke the legendary 2-hour marathon barrier, breaking the world record by 65 seconds in London.

The legendary two-hour marathon barrier has been broken, officially, in an unprecedented sporting achievement.

Not with one runner, but two.

In a race for the ages, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday, breaking the previous men’s world record by an incredible 65 seconds.

“What’s coming today is not for me alone,” said 29-year-old Sawe, “but for all of us today in London.”

Just 11 seconds back was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who ran his first ever race – and covered the 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) in under two hours.

Completing the field was Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who broke the previous world record – set by Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya in Chicago in 2023 – by seven seconds, finishing in 2:00:28.

WATCH | Sawe breaks the marathon world record in London:

History was made at the London Marathon as Kenya’s Sawe ran in under 2 hours

The new world record time for the race is now 1:59:30 set by Sabastian Sawe of Kenya on Sunday at the London Marathon.

In an exciting sight, Sawe ran faster as the race progressed, covering the second half of the race in 59 minutes and 1 second. He took out Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and then went out alone in the last two kilometers, he ran until he finished at The Mall to applause.

Sawe, who retained his title in London, said it was “a day to remember” and thanked the crowds who lined the streets of the British capital to witness what could be considered a feat that marks the pinnacle of human achievement.

“I think they help a lot,” he said, “because if it wasn’t for them you don’t feel very loved … with their call, you feel happy and strong.”

Less than 2 hours previously done – illegally

Breaking two hours in a long distance race has been a long time coming – and it’s been done before.

However, when Eliud Kipchoge – the Kenyan long-distance striker – achieved success in Vienna in 2019, it was in a specially designed race called “1.59 Challenge” organized by the British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe under favorable conditions, in a circuit of six miles (9.6-kilometer), and using a rotating pacemaker.

That meant she was not included in the official race category, so Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40 did not enter the record book.

In any case, Sawe beat that time by 10 seconds on a perfectly flat course across London in dry and sunny conditions.

“The stakes have just gone up in the marathon,” said Paula Radcliffe, a former London Marathon winner, when commentating on the BBC’s race.

At the turn of the century, the world’s best time for the men’s race was 2:05:42, set by Khalid Khannouchi in Chicago in 1999.

Khannouchi broke his own record by four seconds in 2002 – the last time the men’s sprint was run in London – and has been gradually beaten over the past 24 years by successive Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes, including Haile Gebrselassie, Wilson Kipsang, Kipchoge and most recently Kiptum.

Assefa wins the fastest women-only marathon

History was also made in the women’s race, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa breaking away with about 500 meters to go to win in 2:15:41 and defend the title in the fastest time ever seen in a women’s singles race.

However, it was 16 seconds slower than the course record set by Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri was 12 seconds back from second place with the best time in her London debut and her compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei was third, two seconds behind. It was the first time three women ran under two hours, 16 minutes in a long distance race.

I screamed when I finished because I knew I was breaking the world record,” said Assefa.

“I felt fit today and I worked hard on my speed and all my training has paid off.”

In the wheelchair races, there was a Swiss double as Marcel Hug claimed his sixth consecutive men’s title – and eighth overall – and Catherine Debrunner beat Tatyana McFadden in the final to defend the title.