Omanghana
Kenya gave a hero’s welcome to long-distance runner Sebastian Sawe following his historic performance at the London Marathon, where he became the first athlete to officially run a marathon in under two hours in a sanctioned race.
Sawe crossed the finish line in an extraordinary time of 1:59:30, breaking one of the most elusive barriers in athletics and rewriting marathon history. His achievement surpassed the previous official world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum, by a remarkable 65 seconds.
On his return home, Sawe received a grand استقبال at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where his plane was honored with a traditional water cannon salute. He was welcomed by cheering crowds, cultural dancers, and presented with a symbolic victory wreath, reflecting national pride in his achievement.
The celebrations continued at the State House, where William Ruto hosted the athlete and praised his accomplishment, comparing it to historic milestones such as the moon landing and the first sub-four-minute mile.
In recognition of his feat, Sawe was awarded 8 million Kenyan shillings, equivalent to about $62,000, along with a new car. He also received custom vehicle registration plates bearing his record time, “01 59 30,” as a lasting tribute to the achievement.
Unlike previous sub-two-hour attempts, such as Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 exhibition run, Sawe’s record was set during a fully competitive race against elite athletes. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia also made history by finishing second in 1:59:41, making it the first race where multiple athletes broke the two-hour mark.
Despite the historic milestone, Sawe has already set his sights on the future, expressing confidence that an even faster time is possible. He stated that running a marathon in 1:58 is within reach, signaling that the limits of human endurance in long-distance running may continue to be pushed further.
Source: Omanghana
