Yomif Kejelcha broke the 2-hour marathon but got 2nd place. He's still happy
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia ran a 1:59:41 at the 2026 London Marathon, breaking the two-hour barrier in his debut, but finished second to Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, who won with a time of 1:59:30. Despite missing first place by 11 seconds, Kejelcha expressed immense joy at achieving the historic sub-two-hour marathon. He credited his performance to rigorous training, advanced footwear, and strong competition with Sawe. Kejelcha remains motivated to improve and believes more runners will soon join the sub-two-hour club.
- ▪Yomif Kejelcha ran a 1:59:41 in his first competitive marathon, becoming the second-fastest man in marathon history.
- ▪Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the 2026 London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30, setting a new official world record.
- ▪Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo finished third with a time of 2:00:28, also surpassing the previous world record.
- ▪Kejelcha set the fastest-ever marathon debut and broke the two-hour mark despite not winning the race.
- ▪Kejelcha credited his performance to high-altitude training, advanced running shoes, coaching support, and disciplined preparation.
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Sports Yomif Kejelcha broke the 2-hour marathon but got 2nd place. He's still happy April 28, 20267:23 PM ET By Ava Berger Yomif Kejelcha of Team Ethiopia crosses the line and finishes second during the Men's 2026 TCS London Marathon on April 26, 2026 in London, England. Alex Davidson/Getty Images Europe hide caption toggle caption Alex Davidson/Getty Images Europe After Yomif Kejelcha crossed the finish line at the London Marathon on Sunday, he was shocked by what he'd accomplished. Kejelcha, 28, ran a 1:59:41, crushing the elusive two-hour marathon goal. Athletes have been striving to break through that barrier for years. To make the story even sweeter, Kejelcha beat it in his first-ever competitive marathon.
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