Sawe downplays marathon world record talk after London triumph

Newly crowned London Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe feels it is too soon to think of breaking the marathon world record of 2:00:35, which was set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023.

Sawe was running his second marathon on Sunday having won his first in Valencia December last year, when he clocked 2:02:05 for the win but is not entertaining the word record talk.

In London, he clocked an impressive 2:02:27, showing a high level of consistency in the 42-kilometer race. 

“It is too early to talk about breaking the world record. The most important thing is to put in the hard work required to keep improving race by race,” Sawe told reporters.

Running his first major marathon in unusually warm temperatures, Sabastian Sawe made it look easy.

The Kenyan runner made a solo breakaway with more than 10 kilometers left and never looked like wavering in the sunshine as he cruised to victory in the London on Sunday.

Sawe pulled away from a leading group of nine runners about 90 minutes into the race. He made his move when his rivals slowed down at a drinks station — opting not to take any water despite temperatures that crept toward 18 C (64) as the elite runners were finishing.

“I saw that was my opportunity to push,” Sawe said. “And I ran well.”

With the Tokyo World Athletics Championships set to take place in September, Sawe is focusing on being part of team Kenya for the event.

“Only hard work and discipline can take you far in athletics career. I know with that I can keep making my country proud in many competitions,” he noted.

He has in the meantime emphasised the need for balancing between education and athletics, explaining his late entry to marathon.

“I had to concentrate on my education first because it holds the key to the future. After that, it’s time now put in the hard work required for my athletics career and I am very proud of the way I have picked up,” said Sawe.