Sabastian Sawe has shattered a world record by completing the London Marathon in less than two hours on Sunday, finishing with an overall race time of 1:59:30
Sabastian Sawe has broken a long-standing marathon world record as he crossed the line at the London Marathon in 1:59:30. The Kenyan bested the previous record of 2:00:35 held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, as he won the race for the second year in a row.
It’s also a marked improvement on last year’s time of 2:02:27. The elite men’s race ended up going down to the wire between Sawe and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
However, Sawe eventually broke free of his rival as they headed into the last several hundred metres to stamp his place in the history books. Kejelcha also crossed the line in under two hours to take second-place, highlighting just how close the race was between the two.
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The emphatic performance from Sawe left Olympic silver medallist, Steve Cram, lost for words. He told the BBC: “Come on Sabastian Sawe!
“History in the making. Nobody has ever done this. They said it couldn’t be done. A historic performance.
“Incredible. I have never seen anything like that. That, you would say, is unbelievable. But we have just seen it. Lost for words, genuinely.”
He added: “There are things that happen in sport where you want to be there to see it: Roger Bannister, the first ever four-minute mile.
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“Those who were there on that day still tell that story today. We did say it was a day for records. The world will never be the same again.”
Paula Radcliffe, meanwhile, claimed that the feat will “reverberate around the world,” as she was taken aback by Sawe’s performance.
Coming into the race this year, 30-year-old Sawe was asked about his chances of breaking the record, as well as whether his Adidas Pro Evo 3s shoes were world record quality. To which, he simply replied: “Yep.”
Speaking after his win, meanwhile, Sawe explained: “I saw the time and I was so excited.”
He added: “First of all I want to thank the crowds. They help a lot. They helped a lot. You feel so happy and strong and pushing. What comes for me today is not for me alone but all of us in London.”
It comes as records were also broken in the women’s elite race, as Tigst Assefa stormed to victory for the second year running.
The Ethiopian finished with a time of 2:15:41, shaving nine seconds from her time at last year’s event which was a women’s London Marathon record.
Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei – both hailing from Kenya – finished second and third, respectively.
In the wheelchair races, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s competition for the sixth year in a row. It came as his eighth victory at the event overall, equalling the record set by David Weir.
Catherine Debrunner, also of Switzerland, meanwhile, successfully defended her own title in the women’s wheelchair race.
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