President William Ruto on Thursday hosted marathon sensation Sebastian Sawe and his family at State House, Nairobi, in recognition of his historic performance at the London Marathon.

Sawe made global headlines after becoming the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours in an official competition, clocking 1:59:30.

State Honour and Rewards

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During the ceremony, President Ruto awarded Sawe KSh8 million. This included KSh5 million for breaking the world record and KSh3 million for winning gold.
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He also presented the athlete with a custom number plate bearing the time 01:59:30, marking the historic run.
“Such moments are rare. You have inspired the world and lifted Kenya’s flag high,” President Ruto said.

                                   President William Ruto //X

A Race That Redefined Limits

Sawe’s performance in London was both tactical and relentless. He stayed in the lead pack alongside Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, reaching halfway in 60:29 — exactly on pace for a sub-two-hour finish.
At around the 18-mile mark, the two broke away from the field. Sawe then accelerated.
Between 30km and 35km, he recorded a 13:54 split, followed by an even faster 13:42 over the next segment.
“The Kenyan got quicker as the race went deeper,” race analysts noted.
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Key Stats from the Historic Run

  • Finish time: 1:59:30
  • Halfway split: 60:29
  • Fastest 5km segment: 13:42
  • Age: 29

                             Sebastian Sawe // x

Surpassing a Long-Standing Barrier

The sub-two-hour marathon has long been considered the ultimate test in distance running.
In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:35 in Vienna during a controlled event. However, that run was not recognised as an official world record.
Sawe’s performance now stands as the first time the barrier has been broken in standard race conditions.

“Breaking the sub-two-hour barrier has been a dream. Today, that dream is real,” Kipchoge said in a congratulatory message.

A New Chapter in Marathon History

Sawe’s victory signals a shift in marathon running. What once seemed impossible is now part of competitive reality.
For Kenya, it adds another defining moment in a legacy of long-distance dominance.