Kenya's Sabastian Sawe produced a blistering performance to beat a star-studded field and win the men's London marathon in a time of 2hr 02min 27sec on Sunday.
The 29-year-old, who won the Valencia marathon last December, came home alone in blazing sunshine ahead of Uganda's world half marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo.
Defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao edged Abdi Nageeye for third in a photo finish while four-time champion Eliud Kipchoge finished sixth.
🇰🇪 Sabastian Sawe beat a stacked field with Jacob Kiplimo and Tamirat Tola to win his debut #LondonMarathon ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/NAK0wUP1Nz
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 27, 2025
At the halfway mark the lead group, which included Kipchoge, Olympic champion Tamirat Tola and Kiplimo, timed outside world record pace at 1:01:30.
Kipchoge, though, was dropped as the runners approached the 90 minute mark.
It was at the drinks station shortly after that that Sawe made the decisive break. Unlike the others he did not take a drink and stole a march on them.
Kiplimo was caught unawares as he was at the back of the group but the 24-year-old battled through to suggest his day will come.
Sawe, though, never had a concern from that moment on, looking fresh as a daisy as he broached the winner's tape on the Mall in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.