Kerr, Sawe Record Runs Earn Top Honor Nod
Distance runners and fans see two London world records recognized as the year's standout performances.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Running
World Athletics has nominated Josh Kerr's mile world record and Sabastian Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon for its moment of the year. Both performances came at London events, and the winners will be honored at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on 29 November.
Why it matters
For runners tracking elite performance, the nominations highlight how quickly the record books are moving at both the middle-distance and marathon distances. The recognition reflects a year in which established benchmarks were broken in front of large home crowds.
Both records come from timed, competitive races: Kerr's mile at the London Diamond League in July and Sawe's marathon at the London Marathon in April. Kerr's time beat the previous mile mark by almost half a second, and Sawe's finish was more than a minute quicker than Kiptum's prior marathon record.
The players
World Athletics
The international governing body for track and field, which nominates performances and hosts the annual awards that recognize elite athletics achievements.
Josh Kerr
A British middle-distance runner, aged 29, whose 3:42.66 mile set a new world record in London.
Sabastian Sawe
A 31-year-old Kenyan marathon runner who won the London Marathon in 1:59:30.
The details
Kerr's mile was run at London Stadium before a home crowd, where he finished in 3 minutes 42.66 seconds. Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon came as a race result, with Yomif Kejelcha finishing second in a time under two hours and Jacob Kiplimo third, also ahead of the previous world record. The men's 4x400m relay at the world relays was won by Botswana.
Timeline
2023: Kelvin Kiptum set the marathon record of 2:00:35.
April 2026: Sabastian Sawe ran the sub-two-hour marathon at the London Marathon.
July 2026: Josh Kerr set the mile world record at the London Diamond League.
29 November 2026: The World Athletics Awards ceremony takes place in Monaco.
Health Landscape
Sawe's sub-two-hour run lowers the marathon benchmark that Kelvin Kiptum set in 2023 by more than one minute. Kerr's mile result similarly improves on a record that had stood for 27 years, placing both performances as recent steps in a continuing run of elite endurance progress.
For recreational runners, these records offer a benchmark of what sustained training at the highest level can produce, though they are not a target for most people. Anyone building up to a race is best served by a gradual, individualized plan, and it is worth discussing any new training load with a physician or coach.
The takeaway
Elite performances like these reflect years of disciplined, progressive training rather than a single effort. Runners interested in improving should build mileage gradually and check any major change in training with their doctor.
What happens next
The World Athletics Awards ceremony in Monaco on 29 November 2026 will present the moment of the year, along with the athlete of the year, rising star and coach awards.
Further reading
For more on how elite runners are pushing these benchmarks, explore the Running section.
