Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha achieved a monumental feat at the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2026, by completing the race in an astonishing 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds. This time shattered the elusive two-hour barrier, a goal that has long eluded elite athletes. Remarkably, this was Kejelcha's first competitive marathon, making his achievement even more extraordinary. Despite his historic performance, Kejelcha secured second place, finishing just 11 seconds behind Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, who was celebrated as the first man to officially break the two-hour mark.
Kejelcha, 28, expressed his disbelief and elation in an interview following the race. "This is so crazy," he told NPR from Frankfurt, Germany, where he was still processing his accomplishment. "It's too hard to believe… I don't have words for it really." He admitted that prior to the event, he had considered breaking two hours in his debut marathon to be "not possible." His performance, however, proved his own expectations wrong.
Despite the second-place finish, Kejelcha conveyed no disappointment. "I'm not upset," he stated. "I'm not angry. I'm very, very happy because I broke two hours." He views the narrow 11-second gap to Sawe as a minor difference, expressing confidence in his ability to surpass it in future races. "It's… an 11 second difference, so I think it's not too far for me to break again," Kejelcha explained. He described his relationship with Sawe as a "friendly competition," noting that the fastest marathon runner is also a close friend.
Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo also ran an exceptional race, finishing third with a time of 2:00:28. His performance would have been a significant headline in any other year, as he also surpassed the previous world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023. However, the extraordinary circumstances of Kejelcha and Sawe breaking the two-hour barrier overshadowed Kiplimo's impressive run.
While this was Kejelcha's first competitive marathon, he is a seasoned and versatile athlete with a strong track record. He previously set the world indoor mile record in 2019, broke the half-marathon world record in Valencia in 2024, and earned a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. His prior successes demonstrate his consistent ability to perform at the highest levels of athletics.
Kejelcha recalled his mindset before the London Marathon, stating that he had initially planned to run with the lead pack but did not anticipate breaking the two-hour mark. He had conservatively estimated his finish time to be around 2:02 or 2:03. He had long aspired to compete in the London Marathon, and his coach finally granted him the opportunity in 2026. "My training is really great, as far as tomorrow, I don't know what [is going to] happen," Kejelcha remembered thinking.
During the race, Kejelcha and Sawe pushed each other relentlessly, running side-by-side for a significant portion of the course. They managed to drop Kiplimo between miles 18 and 21. However, in the final mile, Sawe established a decisive lead. Sawe's winning time was 65 seconds faster than the previous world record. Kejelcha mentioned that he experienced a dip in pace after the 25-mile mark, which made him doubt his ability to achieve his goal. It was only near the finish line, upon checking his watch, that he realized he was significantly under two hours, making the "impossible" seem attainable.
Following the race, Kejelcha extended congratulations to Sawe. He expressed a clear desire to not only beat his own record but also Sawe's. His immediate goal for his next marathon is to run it in 1:58. "It's competition… I need to beat it," he asserted. Kejelcha believes that he and Sawe have set a significant precedent for future generations of runners, anticipating that more athletes will soon achieve sub-two-hour marathon times.
Kejelcha attributed his historic performance to several key factors. He highlighted the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which he described as "magical" due to their extreme lightness. He also credited his coaches for their unwavering belief in him, which bolstered his own self-confidence. "Now, I believe in myself," Kejelcha stated, a belief solidified by his record-breaking debut.
Further contributing to his success were his rigorous six-month preparation at his high-altitude training base in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the favorable "amazing weather" conditions in London on race day. His wife's disciplined meal preparation, ensuring he adhered to his specific dietary program, also played a crucial role. Kejelcha emphasized that beyond these elements, his achievement was primarily the result of "hard work" and the "discipline" essential for any athlete.
While Kejelcha has not yet finalized plans for his next race, he maintains that the half marathon remains his favorite discipline, despite finding it more challenging than the full marathon. "The marathon is much easier than the… half marathon," he said with a laugh. He concluded by reiterating his contentment with his performance, emphasizing that finishing second does not diminish his pride in becoming the fastest marathon debutant in history. "I am very happy," Kejelcha affirmed.