Sabastian Sawe and Assefa steal the show at 2025 London Marathon

Kenyan Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 2:02:27 (C) World Majors

By Michael Kirwa
Sunday, April 27, 2025

Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa lit up the 2025 London Marathon with commanding victories in the men’s and women’s races respectively. Sawe stormed to a stunning debut win while Assefa shattered the women’s only marathon record, capping off a historic day on the streets of London.

Sabastian Sawe enhanced his reputation as a force to reckon with in the men’s marathon after winning the 2025 London Marathon on his race debut with a time of 2:02:27.

Sawe embarked on a lonely cruise to the tape after breaking away from the leading pack at the 30-kilometre mark. It was a performance that gave credence to comments his coach, the renowned Claudio Berardelli, had made before the race.

“Sawe is the best athlete I have ever handled,” said Berardelli, who also coached former London Marathon winners Martin Lel and Amos Kipruto.

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Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who shattered the half marathon record in February, marked his marathon debut with a second-place finish after clocking 2:03:37.

Third place went to Kenya’s Alexander Munyao, who clocked 2:04:20 to finish just ahead of Dutchman Abdi Nageeye in a photo finish. Nageeye also clocked 2:04:20.

Olympic champion Tamirat Tola finished fifth with a time of 2:04:42, unable to replicate his exploits from Paris last year.

Four-time London Marathon winner, the legendary Eliud Kipchoge, finished sixth in 2:05:25 as his winless streak stretched to three races.

“I am so happy to win my first World Marathon Major race. I had prepared very well for this race and that is why I found it easy to win,” said Sawe, 29, after his triumph.

“The race has given me hope that I have a future in marathon as I find it more manageable to compete in,” he added.

Sawe’s victory earned him prize money of $55,000 (Sh7.1 million), while Kiplimo took home $30,000 (Sh3.8 million) for second place. Nageeye’s third-place finish was rewarded with $22,500 (Sh2.9 million).

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s only marathon record after winning in 2:15:50, breaking the mark set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir last year (2:16:16).

Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei finished second in 2:18:44. Jepkosgei had run side by side with Assefa until the 35-kilometre mark, after which the Ethiopian pulled away to cruise to the third marathon victory of her career, adding to her Berlin Marathon wins in 2022 and 2023.

Reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won the race in 2023, finished third in 2:19:00.

Billed as the “race of the ages” due to the remarkable profiles of its elite men’s and women’s fields, it was the women’s race that lived up to the hype as the women’s only record came under threat throughout.

"I am happy to have won today after finishing second in London last year. It is my first winning London Marathon," Assefa said after the race.

The podium finishes were determined within the first five kilometres after Assefa, Jepkosgei, Hassan, and Ethiopian Megertu Alemu formed a formidable leading pack.

However, Alemu faded after 15 kilometres and withdrew shortly after the 20-kilometre mark, unable to cope with the high pace.

Hassan also dropped back at the 15-kilometre mark as Assefa and Jepkosgei pulled away, opening a 26-second gap at halfway.

Assefa and Jepkosgei ran shoulder to shoulder until the 35-kilometre mark when Assefa broke away decisively, with Jepkosgei pushing hard to finish second, upgrading from her third-place finish last year.

Before the race, Hassan had noted that every marathon race is different, and this one proved her right as it became the first marathon she had failed to win after previous victories at the 2023 London and Chicago Marathons and the Olympic marathon last year.

Assefa’s record-breaking performance earned her a bonus of $125,000 (Sh16.1 million) on top of the $55,000 (Sh7.1 million) prize money for first place. Jepkosgei earned $30,000 (Sh3.8 million) for second, while Hassan took home $22,500 (Sh2.9 million) for third.

Men’s Top 10 (official times)