Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo made an impressive debut in the full marathon, finishing second at the London Marathon on Sunday.
The world record holder in the half marathon posted an impressive time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 37 seconds, narrowly trailing Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe.
Sawe clinched victory in the 42.195km race with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 27 seconds, but Kiplimo, competing in his first full marathon, was the only runner to keep the Kenyan in his sights throughout the race.
Kiplimo’s time not only secured him a podium finish but also set a new national record for Uganda.
Sawe’s victory marks a significant achievement, as he becomes the fourth consecutive Kenyan to win the men’s race in London.
The legendary Eliud Kipchoge, widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time, finished in sixth place with a time of 2:05:25. This was Kipchoge’s first marathon since turning 40.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa made history, winning with a record-breaking time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 40 seconds. Assefa surpassed the previous record set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir by an impressive 26 seconds.
Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei took second place with a time of 2:18:43, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands finished third in 2:18:59. Uganda’s Stella Chesang rounded off the top ten in the women’s race, securing a solid sixth place with a time of 2:22:42.