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Kenyan Sebastian Sawe Seizes Victory as Tigst Assefa Sets New Women’s-Only World Record at 45th London Marathon
Last Updated: 27/04/25 12:28pm
Sebastian Sawe from Kenya clinched a momentous victory at the London Marathon, marking the pinnacle of his running career, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa established a new women’s-only world record.
Sebastian Sawe of Kenya triumphed in the London Marathon, achieving his most significant career win, while Tigst Assefa broke the women’s-only world record.
Approximately 90 minutes into the race, Sawe tactically distanced himself from a front group of nine runners, ultimately finishing with a remarkable time of two hours, two minutes, and 27 seconds.
The 29-year-old executed this strategic move as his competitors decelerated at a hydration station, notably opting out of taking water in the warm climate.
Jacob Kiplimo, a half marathon world record holder making his full marathon debut, was the only athlete able to pursue Sawe but could not close the gap, finishing around 70 seconds behind in second place.
In the women’s race, Assefa claimed her inaugural London Marathon title, decisively breaking away from Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Assefa completed the grueling course in two hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds—recording the fastest time in a women’s-only marathon. However, it was still 25 seconds shy of the overall course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 during a mixed-gender event.
Last year, Assefa finished second at both the London Marathon and the Paris Olympics but has now added this prestigious title to her two victories at the Berlin Marathon.
This time, she ensured there was no repeat of the sprint finish seen in Paris, breaking free from Jepkosgei with only a few kilometers to go. Assefa then made her way along the scenic River Thames towards the final stretch in front of Buckingham Palace.
Jepkosgei, who won the London Marathon in 2021, finished nearly three minutes behind, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan secured third place.
Eilish McColgan, crowned the 10,000m gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, made her marathon debut, finishing eighth in a Scottish record time of two hours, 24 minutes, and 25 seconds.
McColgan was not the only British runner to finish in the top 10; Rose Harvey placed ninth. However, Charlotte Purdue was forced to withdraw due to a calf injury.
The wheelchair events saw a Swiss triumph, with Marcel Hug winning his sixth London Marathon title in a time of one hour, 25 minutes, and 25 seconds. Catherine Debrunner claimed her third women’s title in four years with a time of one hour, 34 minutes, and 18 seconds, just missing her personal world record by two seconds.
This year’s marathon attracted a record 56,000 participants tackling the 42.195-kilometer course, which commenced at Greenwich Park, wound along the River Thames, and concluded on The Mall.
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