Sabastian Sawe became the first runner to officially complete a marathon in under 2 hours at the 2026 London Marathon. He finished with a time of 1:59:30, breaking the men’s world record.
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia won the women’s race, finishing in 2:15:41. This time also set a new women’s-only world record.
The marathon course started in Greenwich Park and concluded on The Mall near Buckingham Palace. More than 59,000 athletes participated in this year’s event.
The TCS London Marathon featured a live tracker app that allows users to monitor an unlimited number of runners. Participants can share their actual live location using GPS if enabled before the race.
Fans received notifications each time a runner completed a 5km split. “You can find out where they are on the interactive map as well as receive notifications when they have crossed certain timing mats,” an official stated.
The app also includes a Boost feature for sending messages of encouragement to runners. Users were encouraged to track friends and family during the race.
This year’s event drew attention not only for its competitive spirit but also for its charitable aspect. Many participants raised funds for various causes through charity donations.
Yet, observers noted that while records were broken, questions remain about how these performances will impact future marathons.
The elite race leaderboard highlighted exceptional talent from around the globe. Athletes like Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei showcased their skills alongside Sawe and Assefa.
The success of the live tracker app may influence how future marathons are organized, with technology playing an increasingly vital role in enhancing spectator engagement.
As runners celebrate their achievements, excitement builds for next year’s event, where many will aim to challenge these new benchmarks.
