He Broke the 2-Hour Marathon Barrier… and Came in Second

Yomif Kejelcha just did something runners have been chasing for decades: he shattered the two-hour marathon barrier. His time? A blistering 1:59:41. Which is an astonishing feat, especially considering it was his very first competitive marathon. "This is so crazy," he told NPR, "It's too hard to believe… I don't have words for it really." Funny, because before the race, he'd confidently declared breaking two hours in his debut was, well, impossible.

Then he came in second. Because apparently that's where we are now: the sub-two-hour marathon is so last year, it's not even a guaranteed win. Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line 11 seconds earlier, becoming the first man to officially run a marathon in under two hours. Let that satisfying number sink in.

But Kejelcha? He's not mad. Not even a little. "I'm not upset," he said. "I'm not angry. I'm very, very happy because I broke two hours." He sees that 11-second gap not as a defeat, but as future bragging rights. Plus, Sawe is a close friend, which probably makes getting out-sprinted a little less painful. Also worth noting: Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo came in third, also beating the previous world record. It was a good day for fast feet.

Kejelcha is no stranger to breaking records. He already holds the world indoor mile record (2019), the half-marathon world record (2024), and a silver medal in the 10,000 meters. So, you know, he's good at running.

The Recipe for "Impossible"

His coach finally let him run the London Marathon this year, and Kejelcha went in expecting a 2:02 or 2:03 finish. Definitely not under two hours. But then he and Sawe started pushing each other, dropping Kiplimo somewhere between mile 18 and 21. Sawe pulled ahead with just a mile to go, and Kejelcha felt his pace drop, thinking he wouldn't make it.

Then he saw his watch. Well under two hours. Suddenly, the "impossible" became very, very possible. He crossed the line, congratulated his friend, and immediately set his sights on a 1:58 marathon. Because why stop at merely impossible when you can aim for wildly impossible?

So, what's the secret sauce for running a marathon in less time than it takes to watch a movie? Kejelcha credits a few things:

• "Magical" shoes: The adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 are, in his words, so light he barely noticed them. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
• Believing coaches: They believed in him even when he didn't. Now, he says, "I believe in myself."
• Altitude training: Six months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, combined with "amazing weather" in London on race day.
• Wife's cooking: Her culinary skills kept him on a strict diet. (Smart man, crediting the chef.)

But really, he says, there's no secret formula. "I don't have anything, it's just hard work. Athletes always need discipline." And a good wife. And magical shoes. He's also convinced the full marathon is easier than the half marathon, which he finds "much harder." He said this laughing, which makes you wonder if he's messing with us or if he's just built differently. Either way, he's walking away with the title of fastest-ever marathon debut. And that, he says, makes him "very happy."