'They Are Ready' – Eliud Kipchoge Identifies His 2 Successors in the Sub-Two-Hour Marathon Quest

As he prepares to step away from the elite level, marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has identified his successors, tipping Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo as the athletes most likely to officially run a sub-two-hour marathon.

The quest to break the two-hour mark in an official race remains one of the most compelling challenges in distance running.

Eliud Kipchoge himself made history on October 12, 2019, when he completed the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria, clocking an astonishing 1:59:40.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

While the run was not officially recognised due to the controlled conditions, it stands as a monumental feat of human endurance.

The late Kelvin Kiptum came tantalisingly close to the barrier in an official race, setting the current world record of 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Now, Eliud Kipchoge, a five-time Berlin Marathon champion, believes a new generation is poised to take on the challenge.

"I think the two guys are good at the moment and I believe I have left the sport in good hands," Eliud Kipchoge said in an interview with LetsRun.com. "Step by step, they will break the record and run sub two hours."

Sabastian Sawe, 29, made a spectacular marathon debut in Valencia last December, finishing in 2:02:05, the second-fastest debut ever, surpassed only by Kelvin Kiptum's 2:01:53 on the same course in 2022.

He continued his impressive form this year, winning the London Marathon in April with a time of 2:02:27 and later clocking 2:02:16 in Berlin.

Jacob Kiplimo, meanwhile, began his marathon career with a second-place finish in London this year, crossing the line in 2:03:37.

He followed up with a strong performance in Chicago last month, running 2:02:23 in an attempt at Kiptum's record.

Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder, emphasised that patience is key. "It needs time; they need to grow in a good way. But they are ready," he affirmed.

The Kenyan icon is no stranger to rewriting the history books. He first broke the world record in Berlin in 2018 with a time of 2:01:39, then lowered it again on the same course four years later to 2:01:09, a mark that stood until Kiptum's historic run in Chicago.

In his remarks, Eliud Kipchoge also delivered a stern message on the importance of clean sport, urging athletes to compete with integrity.

"Let’s not use other methods to prove you are talented. That is wrong. If all of us embrace integrity at the highest level, we can truly enjoy this sport. Many people love and follow us, let’s compete fairly and cleanly," Eliud Kipchoge said.

Sabastian Sawe has always been vocal about running a marathon in under two hours, and with backing from Eliud Kipchoge, it is just a matter of time.