Sawe Takes Half-Marathon Gold in Kenyan Sweep

Sabastian Sawe won the half marathon at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga. He crossed the line in 59:10, leading a clean sweep of the podium by Kenya. It was his first global title.

A late kick down the river straight

Ninety-seven runners set off on a cool, sunny day in the Latvian capital, with no man a clear favourite. Breezy conditions kept the opening 5km cautious, passed in 14:31. Then the pace sharpened, and Sawe reached 10km at the front of a pack of 15.

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo lost patience after 16km and surged, with only Ethiopia's Jemal Yimer Mekonnen able to follow. Ebenyo opened a lead of some 50 metres, covering one 5km stretch in a fierce 13:33. Behind him the pack began to break apart.

By the final turn Ebenyo was tiring and Sawe was closing fast. As he drew alongside a few hundred metres out, his teammate smiled and motioned for him to ease down. Sawe had eyes only for gold, saluting once before kicking clear to win by four seconds.

Kenya's first men's sweep since 1997

Ebenyo took silver in 59:14 and Samwel Nyamai Mailu bronze in 59:19. It was only the second men's podium sweep in 25 editions of the championships, the last in 1997. Kenya also took a 17th team title, well clear of Ethiopia.

Sawe went to Riga as the reigning Berlin Half Marathon champion. "I am so happy with this win, but also the 1-2-3 for Team Kenya," he told reporters. "I always like to kick in the last kilometre."

The gold, won at 28, was his first major honour. It opened a marathon career that carried him to wins in Valencia, London and Berlin. In April 2026 he became the first man to run an official sub-two-hour marathon.