2026 London Marathon: Top Kenyan athletes to battle it out in fierce East African rivalry
By Luke Oluoch, April 24, 2026The 2026 London Marathon is set to take center stage this Sunday, April 26, 2026, as East Africa’s finest athletes line up for glory and bragging rights on the streets of London.
This year’s edition will feature a stacked elite men’s field, headlined by the world’s top two marathoners, Sebastian Sawe, the undefeated Kenyan star seeking a second successive London title, and Jacob Kiplimo.
Sawe vs Kiplimo showdown
Sawe, the competition’s defending champion, will lead a star-studded lineup that also includes Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and the Ethiopian duo of Tamirat Tola and Yomif Kejelcha.
Sawe and Kiplimo faced off in the competition in 2025, with the former emerging victorious. They are set for a thrilling showdown upon their return to London, with pundits predicting a fast race this Sunday, backed by favourable weather conditions.
After claiming victory in 2025 in a dominant 2:02:27—the second-fastest time in the race’s history—the silent but powerful road runner returns as the man everyone is chasing. Jacob Kiplimo, who finished second on his marathon debut in London, is also back for redemption, having recently set a new record at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March 2026.
Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder over 5,000 m and 10,000 m, returns to marathon action after posting a 2:04:52 personal best in Amsterdam, chasing success on the big stage.
The meet-up between the Kenyan and Ugandan athletes promises to produce another high-explosive encounter as Kenyans seek to defend their
Regional dominance
As Kenya seeks to cement its dominance just days after John Korir and Sharon Lokedi won the men’s and women’s Boston Marathon races, Sawe will have the company of fellow Kenyans Geoffrey Kamworor, Amos Kipruto, and Isaiah Lasoi, who will help the team manage the Ugandan threat.
Kamworor, a sporting legend, secured a commanding victory at the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon on February 14, 2026, clocking a world-leading 58:13.
Lasoi, on his part, will be making his marathon debut.
Speaking to the media ahead of the event, Sawe acknowledged the possibility of the course record being smashed. “With the quality of athletes coming to London, it will take another fast time to win, perhaps something close to what Kelvin Kiptum achieved when he set the course record in 2023,” he stated.
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the stars align for not just a race but for history. For Sawe, his sequel in one of the most electrifying races in the event’s storied history comes with stakes raised high: Kelvin Kiptum’s marathon record in sight, his own unbeaten status online, and a fitting occasion for Kenya to defend its reputation in men’s long-distance racing.
The event will kick off at 11:05 am for the elite women, while the elite men’s race gets underway at 11:35 am.