Yomif Kejelcha broke the 2-hour marathon but got 2nd place. He's still happy
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia ran a 1:59:41 at the 2026 London Marathon, breaking the two-hour barrier in his first competitive marathon, but finished second to Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, who clocked 1:59:30. Despite missing the win by 11 seconds, Kejelcha expressed immense joy at achieving such a historic feat. He credited his performance to rigorous training, advanced footwear, and strong support from coaches and family. Kejelcha remains motivated to improve and believes more runners will soon join the sub-two-hour club.
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Sports Yomif Kejelcha broke the 2-hour marathon but got 2nd place. He's still happy April 28, 20267:23 PM ET By Ava Berger Yomif Kejelcha of Team Ethiopia crosses the line and finishes second during the Men's 2026 TCS London Marathon on April 26, 2026 in London, England. Alex Davidson/Getty Images Europe hide caption toggle caption Alex Davidson/Getty Images Europe After Yomif Kejelcha crossed the finish line at the London Marathon on Sunday, he was shocked by what he'd accomplished. Kejelcha, 28, ran a 1:59:41, crushing the elusive two-hour marathon goal. Athletes have been striving to break through that barrier for years. To make the story even sweeter, Kejelcha beat it in his first-ever competitive marathon.
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