Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record for the 26.2-mile marathon on April 26 at the annual London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30, becoming the first to finish under 2 hours. Hundreds of fans cheered as Sawe crossed the finish line 30 seconds shy of two hours and beating the previous record by 65 seconds. Close behind Sawe was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also delivered a historic performance, finishing second just 11 seconds later and becoming the second-fastest marathoner ever.
“It was crazy to think that anyone could break the two-hour barrier in marathon running,” Roy Lee (10), varsity cross country athlete, said. “It kind of makes people realize how much the sport has developed and has motivated a significant number of people, including myself, to work harder.”
The race marked a historic moment in long-distance running, as both Sawe and Kejelcha broke the long-standing two-hour barrier under official race conditions. Kenyan long-distance legend Eliud Kipchoge had previously run a sub-two-hour marathon, but it was not considered official because it took place under highly controlled conditions, including a rotating team of 41 pacemakers–runners who turned setting an ideal pace and shielding him from wind resistance. Sawe, in spite of this, was still able to beat Kipchoge’s time by 10 seconds under much more rigorous conditions.
“What stands out for me is not just the time but also the competitiveness of the field,” Chris Ahn (11), varsity cross country captain, said. “The fact that not one, not two, but three people were able to break the previous world record in one single race shows the extent to which humans are capable of running.”
The race highlights a broader transformation in marathon running, driven by developments in training methods, nutrition, and advanced footwear technology designed to maximize efficiency. Sawe’s dominant finish signifies a new era in endurance sports, as the run not only redefines the limits of human performance, but also inspires a global audience.
