Sabastian Sawe has broken the marathon world record in a truly stunning London Marathon run with a time of 1:59:30 on Sunday morning. The Kenyan long-distance runner bested the previous record of 2:00:35 as he won the race for the second year running, also besting his championship time last year of 2:02:27.

The elite men's race became a two-horse race between Sawe and Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha - who also ran a sub-two hour race - but Sawe broke free of his rival in the last several hundred metres to make history.

Coming into this year's race, the 30-year-old was asked about his chances of breaking the record that was previously held by the late Kelvin Kiptum. When Sawe was questioned whether his Adidas Pro Evo 3s shoes were course or world record quality, the Kenyan superstar simply replied: "Yep."

Former track and field athlete Steve Cram was in disbelief after Sawe demolished the record as he said on the BBC: "Come on Sabastian Sawe! History in the making. Nobody has ever done this. They said it couldn't be done. A historic performance. Incredible. I have never seen anything like that. That you would say is unbelievable, but we have just seen it. Lost for words, genuinely.

"There are things that happen in sport where you want to be there to see it. Roger Bannister the first ever four-minute mile. Those who were there on that day still tell that story today. We did say it was a day for records. The world will never be the same again."

It's been quite the day for the Ethiopian running contigent as Tigst Assefa captured victory in the women's elite race for the second year in a row. Assefa, 29, finished the marathon in a time of 2:15:41 - a nine-second improvement on her time last year which was a women's London Marathon world record. Kenyan runners Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei came second and third.

Sawe appeared on BBC Sport alongside Gabby Logan with his record time already written on his shoe as he said of his achievement: "I saw the time and I was so excited." He then took the opportunity to thank the fans, adding: "First of all I want to thank the crowds. They help a lot. They helped a lot. You feel so happy and strong and pushing. What comes for me today is not for me alone but all of us in London."