Kiplimo settles for bronze as Kenya’s Sawe makes marathon record

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo settled for third place at the 2026 London Marathon, finishing behind winner Sebastian Sawe (Kenya) and Yomif Kejelcha(Ethiopia).

In an extremely competitive race, Kiplimo clocked 2:00:28 but could only settle for bronze.

He therefore set his marathon personal best, surpassing the 2:02:23 mark he had at the 2025 Chicago Marathon.

To prove how competitive today’s marathon was, all the top three crossed the tape ahead of the London Marathon record of 2:00:35, that was set by the late Kelvin Kiptum set in

2023.Kenya’s Sawe made history becoming the first athlete to finish a competitive marathon sub-two-hour, clocking 1:59:30.

It should be noted that whereas his fellow countryman and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge became the first man to run the same distance under two hours in 2019, his was not regarded as record-eligible because it involved controlled conditions.

Sawe made it to the finish line at 1:59:30 and he made his intentions clear way before the final 10km when he took control at the front.

He covered the first half of the course in 1:00:29, but instead got better to complete the second period in just 59:01.

Ethiopia’s was equally remarkable and also hit the sub-two-hour mark, clocking 1:59:41 but only settled for second place.

Sawe therefore successfully defended his crown he won last year.

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa also defended her title improved her own world record to come number one at 2:15:41, beating Kenyan duo Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a thrilling finish.