‘I can run 1:58’: Sabastian Sawe sets new target after historic London Marathon win

Sabastian Sawe believes it is only a matter of time before he runs a marathon in one hour and 58 minutes after his superhuman sub-two hour performance in London on Sunday.

Speaking the day after he ran 1hr 59 mins and 30 seconds to break the world record by 65 seconds, the 31-year-old Kenyan confirmed that he planned to race again in the autumn – although he hasn’t decided where yet.

Most likely it will be in Berlin, which is a faster course than London, in September. And when Sawe was asked whether he agreed with his coach, Claudio Berardelli that 1:58 was possible in his next race, he smiled.

“I agree I can run 1:58,” he replied. “It’s only a matter of time. If you have good starting preparation for any race, then to achieve anything is possible.

“I started running back in primary school,” he added. “But I mostly focus on studies first. But in my mind, I knew one day I will be a champion, and it came true. Because finally, I’m a champion.”

However, Sawe admitted that he had been so focused on racing Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha that he had no idea he was on course to run under two hours until near the finish.

“It was competitive, because Keljecha was with me. We were patrolling each other. It wasn’t like, let’s see the time. I only realised I was running two hours when finishing the race. It was near the finish line when I saw the time – and I was so excited and tried to push and finally I did it.

“For sure, racing with Yomif made a difference,” he added. “What I did yesterday, it’s because of him. He tried his best, and I tried my best, and we pushed to our limits, and finally, we ran sub two.”

And while Sawe conceded that while his legs were “a little bit sore” following his monumental effort, his head was clear after he turned down the chance to celebrate with a sponsor’s bottle of champagne.

“I didn’t drink anything to celebrate, just water,” said Sawe, who is teetotal. “I ate rice and a piece of chicken for dinner. It was very simple.”

Sawe was due to fly back to Nairobi on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 on Monday evening, but because of his world record headed to Germany and the headquarters of his sponsors, Adidas, to celebrate.

Sawe also thanked Adidas for paying the Athletics Integrity Unit $50,000 a year to ensure that he is drug tested more – which he hopes will make people trust his performances more.

“We came up with this idea, and I really like it, because doping has become a cancer in my country,” said Sawe. “And we said – from the management of my company, my coaches, and also the whole group – we must get rid of doubts for individual results.

“The AIU agreed to start the process, and everything goes well, and I think it makes me feel comfortable in athletics, because no one’s doubting Sebastian Sawe,” he added. “I would like my fellow athletes to follow me, and to show the world that we can run fast and clean.”