Sabastian Sawe Targets Sub-1:59 Marathon After Historic World Record

Posted : 30 September 2026

Sabastian Sawe believes the marathon’s two-hour barrier can be pushed even further after his historic world-record performance in London. The Kenyan became the first man to officially complete the distance in under two hours when he clocked 1:59:30 in April, breaking the previous world record by 65 seconds.

The 31-year-old said another breakthrough could be possible if the conditions are right. Sawe pointed to favorable weather, effective pacing and strong physical preparation as factors that could help him go below 1:59.

Sawe admitted that even he did not expect to break the two-hour mark in London. His initial objective had been to defend his title, making the final time an unexpected achievement that left him both surprised and grateful.

His record-breaking run also extended an unbeaten marathon career that began with victory in Valencia in 2024. He subsequently won the London and Berlin marathons before returning to London to produce the historic 1:59:30 performance.

Sawe had been scheduled to defend his Berlin Marathon title in September but withdrew because of injury. His agent later confirmed that he was dealing with a stress fracture in his right tibia, ending his plans for a further marathon in 2026.

The Kenyan is now looking toward his return to competition, with the 2027 London Marathon among his targets and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics also in his plans. He said the experience of breaking the two-hour barrier has taught him the importance of patience and recovery.

Sawe also expressed support for Tigst Assefa after the Ethiopian suffered a serious Achilles injury during the Berlin Marathon while challenging for the women's world record. He believes Assefa has the determination and ability to return to the event's biggest stage.

The Kenyan has also made anti-doping efforts a significant part of his career. He has voluntarily undergone additional testing beyond standard requirements, saying he wants to demonstrate that athletes can achieve major results while competing clean.

Sawe hopes those efforts will contribute to Kenya's reputation as the country prepares to host the World Athletics Championships in Nairobi in 2029. The event will be the first edition of the championships staged in Africa.

Sabastian Sawe Targets Sub-1:59 Marathon After Historic World Record

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