Sabastian Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier in London Race
Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon, becoming the first person to break the two-hour barrier in a competitive race. He finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe shattered one of sports' most famous barriers Sunday, becoming the first person to run a marathon under two hours in an actual race. He won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.
The achievement is even more remarkable because another runner also broke the barrier. Ethiopian debutant Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41, making him the second person ever to run under two hours in race conditions.
Sawe made his winning move in the final 10 kilometers of the 26.2-mile race. Only Kejelcha could keep up with his surge to the front of the pack.
The two-hour marathon has long been considered one of running's ultimate challenges. While Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ran under two hours in 2019, that was in a specially designed exhibition with pacemakers and ideal conditions - not an official race.
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa defended her title from last year.
This breaks one of running's biggest barriers - like the four-minute mile. It shows human athletic limits keep getting pushed further and could inspire more runners to chase faster times.
Other marathoners will likely attempt to break the barrier in upcoming major races this year.
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