Running News Daily

Kenyan marathon star Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopian distance-running sensation Yomif Kejelcha have been honoured at the Adidas Group Headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, following their historic sub-two-hour marathon performances in London.

The adidas celebration brought together the only two men to have officially broken the two-hour barrier in record-eligible marathon races, marking a remarkable moment in the history of the sport.

Sawe etched his name into the record books at the 2026 London Marathon, producing an extraordinary 1:59:30 to become the first athlete to officially complete a record-eligible marathon inside two hours. His performance also lowered the previous world record by more than a minute.

Kejelcha followed closely behind with a stunning 1:59:41, making him the second-fastest marathoner in history and the second man to officially break the elusive two-hour barrier.

Together, Sawe and Kejelcha have achieved something that had remained beyond the reach of every marathoner before them. Their performances in London represented a defining moment for a discipline that has spent decades chasing the symbolic two-hour mark.

As part of the celebration at adidas headquarters, Sawe and Kejelcha were honoured for their groundbreaking achievements, with both Sawe and Kejelcha also leaving their footprints at the company's headquarters as a lasting physical reminder of their historic 1:59:30 and 1:59:41.

For Sawe, the visit provided another opportunity to commemorate the performance that transformed his career and pushed the limits of marathon running. His record-breaking run was achieved in adidas' Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, further connecting the historic performance with the brand's technological development.

Kejelcha's achievement was equally significant. His 1:59:41 made him the second man to cross the two-hour threshold in an official marathon, placing him just 11 seconds behind Sawe and firmly establishing the Ethiopian among the greatest marathoners of the modern era.

Interestingly, neither of the two historic athletes will line up at this Sunday's BMW Berlin Marathon.

Sawe was scheduled to defend the title he won in Berlin in 2025, but an injury forced him to withdraw from this year's race. Kejelcha, meanwhile, will also be absent from the prestigious German marathon as he prepares for Valencia marathon in December, meaning the two men who recently rewrote the boundaries of the marathon will not be part of Sunday's elite field.

Their absence will nevertheless do little to diminish the significance of what they accomplished in London.

Two athletes. Two nations. One historic barrier.

Sawe's 1:59:30 and Kejelcha's 1:59:41 have created a new chapter in marathon history, and their performances are likely to remain a source of inspiration for generations of distance runners who will continue chasing the limits of human endurance.