Jacob Kiplimo put up a strong fight in one of the fastest marathon races ever staged but had to settle for third place at the 2026 London Marathon, where history was rewritten at the front of the field.
Kiplimo crossed the line in a remarkable 2:00:28, a new personal best, but it was not enough to match the extraordinary pace set by the leading duo in a race that pushed human limits to new territory.
At the front, Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe produced a stunning performance to defend his crown in record-breaking fashion, while Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also delivered a performance for the ages. Both athletes ran under the long-standing London Marathon record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, underlining just how fierce the contest had become.
Sawe, who controlled much of the race after taking charge before the final 10 kilometres, made history by finishing in an astonishing 1:59:30. He had already signalled his intent earlier, passing halfway in 1:00:29 before producing an even faster second half split of 59:01 to secure back-to-back titles.
Kejelcha was equally outstanding, clocking 1:59:41 to finish second, also dipping under the two-hour mark in a performance that would have won most marathons in history.
Behind them, Kiplimo’s bronze medal came with the satisfaction of a new personal milestone, improving on his previous best of 2:02:23 set during his Chicago Marathon triumph in 2025.
Further down the field, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei finished 12th in 2:06:39.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title in record-breaking style, improving her own world record to 2:15:41. She held off strong challenges from Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a fiercely contested finish, completing a day of extraordinary distance running in London.
