The London Marathon's organisers have hailed the 'greatest day' in the event's 45-year history after huge crowds watched Sabastian Sawe become the first man to shatter the two-hour barrier in an official race, and a world record tally of more than 60,000 runners started the event.
By 6.30pm on Sunday evening, organisers were also hopeful of breaking the record number of 59,226 finishers, set by the New York Marathon last year, although they said it could go right down to the deadline of 11:59pm. Hugh Brasher, the race director, said that an estimated 800,000 supporters had watched an epic men's race, in which Sawe and the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha had both run under two hours.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Tigst Assefa set a women's-only world record, for races involving only female pace setters, although it was five minutes behind the outright women's world record. 'It is, without doubt, the greatest day in London Marathon history,' said Brasher. 'You work for years and years and years and then sometimes the gods make it happen.'
Brasher, whose father Chris paced Sir Roger Bannister to his famous sub-four minute mile in 1954, said that Sawe's time of one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds deserved to be seen in the same light. 'The sub-four mile was in Britain. Sub two hours for the marathon was in Britain. These are historic feats.'
Afterwards Sawe revealed he had been fueled by a breakfast of two slices of bread and honey and a cup of tea, and paid tribute to the crowds. 'I would like to thank the crowds for cheering us. They help a lot because if it was not for them you do not feel you are so loved.'
There were plenty of other magic moments, including Georgios Petroulakis from Greece proposing to his future wife just after they finished, and 36 Guinness world records set across the day. However, there was less joy for Eilish McColgan despite being the leading British woman after coming seventh, as her foot became drenched in blood owing to a blister.
