Kenyan Sabastian Sawe breaks two-hour marathon barrier, President Ruto praises human endurance
via SeneNews2 min read
Kenyan President William Ruto has lauded Sabastian Sawe's achievement in becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in London on Sunday, stating it pushes "the limits of human endurance." Sawe, 31, finished the race in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, surpassing the previous world record of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 35 seconds set by Kelvin Kiptum in April 2023. Kiptum tragically died in a car accident less than a year after setting his record. President Ruto posted on X, "You have not only achieved a historic victory but also pushed the limits of human endurance, shattering the world record and breaking the two-hour barrier with extraordinary determination." He added, "Your triumph places you among the world's greatest athletes and confirms Kenya's place among the essential nations in long-distance running." The race, held under optimal conditions of sunshine, 18 degrees Celsius, and no wind, saw three men run faster than the previous world record. Another Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge, had previously run the 42.195 km in under two hours in 2019 in Vienna 1h 59m 41s, but this was an exhibition with the assistance of 41 pacemakers, which prevented it from being recognized as a record. The Kenyan head of state also congratulated Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei for securing second and third places, respectively, in the women's marathon. While Kenya is renowned for its long-distance runners, the East African nation also faces scrutiny over doping issues. Since 201
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