Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe (29 years old) has made history by completing a marathon in less than two hours. On Sunday in London, Sawe crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, marking a significant breakthrough in long-distance running. The feat was noted by Agerpres.

Sawe triumphed over Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha (1 hour, 59 minutes, 41 seconds) and Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo (2 hours, 00 minutes, 28 seconds), finishing ahead of them near Buckingham Palace.

The Kenyan runner shattered the previous world record on the classic 42.195-kilometer distance, which was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds at the Chicago Marathon in April 2023. Tragically, Kiptum died in a road accident shortly after setting the record.

Marathon to be Removed from World Athletics Championships Starting 2031

Starting in 2031, marathons and other long-distance road races will no longer be included in the World Championships in Athletics. The World Athletics organization has planned an independent World Marathon Championships, which will debut in 2030. Therefore, the last World Championships to include the marathon will be in 2027 and 2029.

The World Marathon Championships will be an annual event, with men and women competing in alternating years. According to World Athletics, it was "designed in close collaboration with those who have made the marathon the global phenomenon it is today."