Jacob Kiplimo set a new Ugandan national record after clocking 2:00:28 at the 2026 London Marathon, improving on his own previous mark in a historic race on Sunday.
Kiplimo’s time shaved more than three minutes off the 2:03:37 he ran on his marathon debut at the same race on April 27 last year, when he finished second and set the national record for the first time. His latest performance confirms his rapid rise over the distance, less than a year into his marathon career.
The Ugandan was part of a high-tempo race that produced one of the fastest marathons in history. He remained in contention deep into the closing stages, briefly joining the lead group before eventually settling for third place behind winner Sabastian Sawe and runner-up Yomif Kejelcha.
Kiplimo’s 2:00:28 now stands as the fastest marathon ever run by a Ugandan, underlining his transition from a world-class track and half marathon runner into a genuine contender over 42 kilometres.
His progression has been swift. Twelve months ago, he arrived in London for his debut over the distance and immediately made an impact, finishing second and rewriting the national record books. One year on, he has lowered that benchmark significantly in a race that pushed the limits of marathon running.
While the headlines were dominated by Sawe’s sub-two-hour breakthrough, Kiplimo’s performance represents a major milestone for Ugandan athletics, placing him firmly among the leading marathon runners in the world.
