Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe produced a commanding performance to win the elite men’s race at the London Marathon on April 27, clocking 2:02:25 to secure his second marathon victory in just his second appearance over the distance.
Sawe, who had already made headlines with a stunning debut win at the Valencia Marathon in December 2024, confirmed his status as a rising star in marathon running. After a tactical and closely contested early race, Sawe made his decisive move around the 16-mile mark. With a strong surge that none of his rivals could match, he gradually pulled away from the lead group, running negative splits to finish with authority.
As he approached the finish line on The Mall, Sawe celebrated in style, raising his arms in triumph and sticking out his tongue in a display of sheer joy. Though his time was impressive, it fell short of the course record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who clocked a remarkable 2:01:25 at the 2023 London Marathon.
At 29 years old, Sawe appears to have a bright future ahead in marathon running. His latest victory, achieved with strategic brilliance and strength, suggests there could be many more titles to come.
Despite high expectations surrounding Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, particularly after his stunning sub-57-minute world record in the half marathon, it was Sawe who took center stage. Kiplimo, running his debut marathon, finished second with a time of 2:03:37, 70 seconds behind the winner. His performance nonetheless confirmed his potential over the full distance, hinting at a promising marathon career.
The battle for third place proved to be one of the most dramatic moments of the race. Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Munyao, the immediate former defending champion, clocked 2:04:20 in a fierce sprint finish down the iconic Mall against Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye. Initially, officials awarded third place to Nageeye, but after a closer review, it was corrected in favor of Mutiso, underlining just how fine the margins were.
Meanwhile, two-time world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, widely considered the greatest marathon runner in history, endured another challenging outing. Despite a strong start where he remained prominently placed in the lead group, Kipchoge faded in the closing stages, eventually finishing sixth with a time of 2:05:25.
Kipchoge, whose list of achievements includes Olympic gold medals and historic world records, showed flashes of his best form during the race but was unable to maintain the blistering pace set by the younger competitors in the final miles.
For Sawe, the victory in London continues a remarkable rise through the ranks of elite distance running. Known also for his prowess in the half marathon having previously claimed the World Half Marathon Championship Sawe’s transition to the marathon distance has been seamless and highly successful.
With two victories from his first two marathons and a commanding performance in one of the world’s most prestigious races, Sebastian Sawe has firmly announced his arrival as a major force in men’s marathon running. His combination of endurance, tactical intelligence, and finishing speed makes him one to watch in upcoming global competitions, including future World Marathon Majors and potentially the Olympic Games.
As a new generation of marathon talent begins to emerge, Sawe’s win in London could mark the start of an exciting new era in long-distance running.
