London Marathon contenders pursue sub-two-hour barrier as two top runners aim for historic time

Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo are highlighted as the leading figures at the London Marathon, fueling talk of breaking the two-hour barrier, with one of them expected to challenge the milestone during Sunday's race. Experts and fellow runners anticipate that the feat could mark a historic moment, though the exact timing remains uncertain.

Since Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour performance in Vienna (1:59:40) was achieved under unofficial conditions, speculation has persisted about whether an official sub-two time is possible in a standard race. Optimists say a Kenyan and an Ugandan could achieve this in London on Sunday, while marathon expert Jos Hermens acknowledges the possibility but does not rate the odds as high.

The debate frames the upcoming race as a test of whether the two-hour barrier can be breached in a regular competition, drawing international attention to the London Marathon and its contenders.