Overview
- Sebastian Kimaru Sawe won in 1:59:30, with Yomif Kejelcha at 1:59:41 and Jacob Kiplimo at 2:00:28 in London’s race Sunday, making it the first official marathon with two men under two hours.
- The new record cut more than a minute from Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 mark from October 2023, which had stood as the official world record.
- Both Sawe and Kejelcha wore Adidas’ latest thick‑soled racing shoes that weigh about 97 grams per foot, and officials cited cool weather and modern training as key aids to the fast times.
- Sawe said Monday he took several doping tests before the race and asked for strict checks to prove he could run fast without banned drugs.
- The surge in times is already shaping policy as Japan’s federation set a 2028 Olympic “fast pass” at 2:03:59 for men and 2:16:59 for women, which no athlete has met, and former national record holder Suguru Osako warned Japan must raise its targets.