Jacob Kiplimo Impresses on Marathon Debut with Second-Place Finish

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the half marathon world record holder, has made a stunning transition to the full marathon distance, finishing second in the 2025 London Marathon.

Kiplimo clocked an impressive 2:03:37 on his debut, just 1 minute and 10 seconds behind the winner, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya, who crossed the line in 2:02:27.

The 45th edition of the London Marathon saw over 56,000 runners take to the streets, with Kiplimo’s performance being one of the highlights of the day.

Despite facing stiff competition from a strong elite field, Kiplimo stayed with the lead group for much of the race before Sawe pulled away in the final stages.

Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Munyao completed the podium in third with a time of 2:04:20.

Among the British runners, Mahamed Mahamed was the top finisher, placing ninth overall in 2:08:52, while Olympic gold medallist Alex Yee finished 12th in 2:11:08.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa made history by setting a new world record for a women’s-only marathon with a time of 2:15:50.

The London Marathon also witnessed an incredible turnout, with electric crowds lining the course to support runners of all levels, and a notable attempt to break the world record for the most finishers at a single marathon event.