Kenyan runner Sawe aims to break Berlin marathon record in tribute to Kipchoge and Kiptum
Kenyan Runner Sawe Aims to Break Marathon Record in Berlin
In the upcoming Berlin Marathon on Sunday, 29-year-old Kenyan runner Sawe will be gunning for a historic win. Sawe's victory in London in April has placed the 2022 course record of 2:01:09, set by Eliud Kipchoge, within reach.
Sawe's ambitions extend beyond medals and records. He aims to improve the reputation of Kenya's athletics program, which has been tarnished by doping scandals. In July, female marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng'etich was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping.
To ensure transparency and integrity, Sawe has undergone an extensive additional testing program overseen by the AIU in the lead-up to Sunday's race. He has completed an additional 25 tests, an average of one every three days. Sawe hopes this testing program will help 'bring back our good name' and show that not all Kenyan athletes run dirty.
Sawe's early inspiration came from his uncle Abraham Chepkirwok, who holds the national 800-metre record. He also cites Eliud Kipchoge as a mentor. Kiptum, who died in a car accident in 2024, left Sawe as the most likely to challenge the world record and the two-hour mark in marathon. The only exception to this is the current world mark of 2:00:35, set by Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
Berlin is known as the fastest marathon course among the majors due to its flatness and fewer turns. Eight of the last nine men's marathon world records have been set in Berlin. Sawe won the Berlin half-marathon in 2023, a promising sign for his upcoming full marathon.
Speaking at a pre-race press conference, Sawe expressed his confidence in achieving a 'big win' in marathons on Sunday. Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, a four-time winner in Berlin, believes the event is the 'perfect place' to beat the two-hour mark and supports Sawe's potential.
Sawe's win in Valencia in 2024 with a time of 2:02:05, which is the fifth fastest in history, further fuels his hopes. He aims to embody the spirit of the late world record holder, Samuel Kiptum. Sawe considers his grandmother Esther, nicknamed Koko, who passed away in 2022, as his major role model.
The Berlin Marathon will be Sawe's third marathon. He skipped the world athletics championships in Tokyo due to the temptation of a shot at history in Berlin. If successful, Sawe will not only break the course record but also set his sights on the world record.
Sawe's achievements and dedication to clean sports make him a beacon of hope for Kenya's athletics program. His journey serves as a reminder that with hard work, integrity, and determination, records can be broken and reputations can be restored.
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