London Marathon in the news: Sawe clocks the first official sub-2 hour marathon and the event hits a new high for finishers, 59,830. Bio: London Marathon, founded 1981 by Chris Brasher and John Disley, is a major annual London race.
Organizers are exploring the possibility of extending the London Marathon to two days in 2027, allowing elite races on separate days and increasing charity participation. No approval has been granted yet, but the plan aims to accommodate rising demand and enhance the event's benefits.
Kenyan Sabastian Sawe has become the first man to run an officially sanctioned marathon under two hours, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30 on 26 April 2026. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha has finished second in 1:59:41 and Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo has taken third in 2:00:28. Tigst Assefa has defended her title and set a women-only world record (2:15:41).
Kathryn Stockett has published The Calamity Club, a Depression-era saga set in Mississippi, amid renewed attention to her past reception after The Help. The novel, a 656-page doorstop, follows two white women surviving the Great Depression. Initial reception acknowledges long journey from rejection to publication, with ongoing debate about her previous work.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has become the first man to run a competitive marathon in under two hours, finishing the 2026 London Marathon in 1:59:30. Yomif Kejelcha has also run under two hours. The performance has reshaped the world record, triggered national celebration in Kenya and prompted discussion about shoes, pacing and testing.
Sabastian Sawe has become the first official marathoner to run 26.2 miles in under two hours, clocking 1:59:30 on April 26. The 31-year-old Kenyan athlete, who debuted in Valencia in 2024, has sparked reflections on faith and national sporting identity as celebrations spread across Kenya.