Ethiopian distance runner Yomif Kejelcha made a stunning entrance into the marathon world at the London Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds. That time made him only the second athlete ever to complete a marathon in under two hours, and it secured him the fastest debut in the event's history.
Kejelcha finished second, just 11 seconds behind Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, who won the race with a world record of 1:59:30. The two runners stayed together for most of the 42.195-kilometre course through the streets of London, until Sawe pulled away in the final two kilometres.
“It’s amazing. It’s history, I don’t have the words really, I’m very happy,” Kejelcha told Euronews Health after the race. “I got to do my dream marathon, I ran fast, I can’t believe it. Even if I run another 57, I don’t care, this one has changed everything.”
A Career Shift from Track to Tarmac
At 28, Kejelcha had built his reputation on shorter distances. He is the former world record holder in the half-marathon and the indoor short-track mile. The London Marathon was his first attempt at the full distance, a leap he said required significant adjustments in training.
“I think short distances are always harder for me,” he said. “It’s faster, it’s quicker, I like the pace.”
Despite his track pedigree, Kejelcha admitted he did not expect to break any records on his debut. “My preparation was amazing, I was ready mentally, but I was ready to run in two hours and something,” he said.
The race unfolded as a duel between Kejelcha and Sawe. For 40 kilometres, the pair matched each other stride for stride. Then Sawe accelerated, opening an 11-second gap that held to the line.
“It is a competition; one person is going to win. He beat me, and now I’m ready for the future,” Kejelcha said. “I believe in myself now.”
That belief is newly forged. Kejelcha’s performance in London has reshaped his own expectations. “Now I believe in myself,” he repeated, a phrase that captures the psychological breakthrough of his debut.
The London Marathon is one of the seven World Marathon Majors, a circuit that includes races in Berlin, Chicago, New York, Boston, Tokyo, and Sydney. London’s flat, fast course has hosted multiple world records, and this year’s edition added another chapter to that legacy. For a deeper look at how technology and tactics have pushed marathon times below two hours, see our analysis.
Kejelcha’s debut also comes at a time when European cities are increasingly investing in elite athletics infrastructure. The London Stock Exchange has even added Ukrainian firms to a reconstruction fund, reflecting the city’s broader role as a hub for international finance and sport.
For now, Kejelcha is heading home to Ethiopia. “We’ll see what comes for the future, but now I’m ready to go home and prepare. I need to take some time,” he said. “I will see with my coach and my manager, but I don’t have a plan for now.”
The next major marathon on the calendar is Sydney on 30 August, followed by Berlin on 27 September, Chicago on 11 October, and New York on 1 November. Whether Kejelcha will line up at any of them remains uncertain, but his London performance has already rewritten the record books and announced a new contender in the sport’s most gruelling event.
