Why Sawe is predicting new course record in 2026 London Marathon

Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe predicts that whoever wins the London Marathon this weekend will likely have to break the course record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum.

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Sawe, 31, is among a list of top-class athletes, who will headline the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday, 26 April.

“The TCS London Marathon course is one of the most beautiful and fastest courses in the world,” Sawe, who comes into this year’s race as the defending champion, said on Thursday, 23 April.

“It was my first time running in London last year, and it was one of the proudest moments of my life to cross the line as champion. I am excited to be coming back in 2026, and I know now a little bit more about what I can expect.”

Kamworor unfazed by elite field ahead of London Marathon showdown

Sawe, a former World Athletics Road Running champion, made his debut in London last year a memorable one, as he won the race in a dominant 2:02.27, clocking the second-fastest ever London Marathon time.

The performance was also just 22 seconds off his personal best time of 2:02.05 he set in Valencia in 2024, on his debut at the distance.

Just five months after that win in London, the Kenyan went on to clinch victory in Berlin, clocking 2:02:16, and extending his invincibility in the full marathon distance.

On Sunday, his unbeaten run comes to the test, as a battery of contenders stand in his way, namely: world half-marathon record holder (pending ratification) Jacob Kiplimo, world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder Joshua Cheptegei, Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, and 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto.

Other notable challengers will include marathon debutant Yomif Kejelcha, Germany’s world marathon silver medallist Amanal Petros, and Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, who is currently the ninth-fastest man in history over the marathon (2:02.38).

Given the array of talent and pace in the field, Sawe expects his defense to veer into the side of history.

“I am sure with the quality of athletes coming to London, it will take another fast time to win again,” he said. “Perhaps the type of effort the great Kelvin Kiptum put in when he set the course record in 2023.”

Kiptum’s course record in London stands at 2:01.25, and the man to have run all of his marathons well below 2:03.00 is pumped for it.