Uganda’s Kiplimo sets new national record at London Marathon

London, United Kingdom: Ugandan distance star Jacob Kiplimo has set a new national marathon record after clocking an impressive 2:00:28 at the London Marathon on Sunday.

The time slashes more than three minutes off his previous best of 2:03:37, which he recorded during his marathon debut at the same race in 2025, where he finished second.

Kiplimo placed third in what turned out to be one of the fastest marathon races in history.

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe stunned the world by winning in a historic 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier in an official marathon. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha followed closely in second place with 1:59:41.

Kiplimo remained part of the lead pack for much of the race and looked firmly in contention until the closing stages. However, after the final pacemaker dropped out beyond the 30km mark, Sawe and Kejelcha surged ahead with a blistering pace that the Ugandan could not sustain.

Despite missing out on victory, Kiplimo’s performance marks a major milestone—not only setting a new Ugandan national record but also cementing his status among the world’s elite marathon runners.

The race opened at a rapid pace, with the lead group hitting 10km in 28:25 and reaching the halfway mark in 60:29, just outside world-record pace.

This was only Kiplimo’s second attempt at the marathon distance, highlighting his remarkable transition from track and half marathon dominance into the full marathon.

In just one year, the 24-year-old has demonstrated significant growth, cutting his time by over three minutes and positioning himself as a serious contender on the global marathon stage.

While much of the spotlight fell on Sawe’s record-breaking run, Kiplimo’s performance stands out as a landmark achievement for Uganda’s athletics, further strengthening the country’s legacy in long-distance running.