It is 15 years ago when the weather last ruined a world record attempt at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. On 26th September 2010 it was Patrick Makau who was chasing the global mark.

At that time Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie was the world record holder with 2:03:59.

Pouring rain and deep puddles left Patrick Makau with no chance. The Kenyan won in 2:05:08 – no one had ever run so fast in such wet conditions.

“In good weather, I would have been about a minute and a half faster,“ said Patrick Makau. A year later he returned to Berlin and ran exactly 90 seconds faster: Makau broke the world record with a time of 2:03:38.

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On Sunday it was not rain but heat that stopped Sabastian Sawe‘s record chase. While Makau ran a ‘Rain world record’ in Berlin in 2010, Sawe now achieved a ‘Warm weather world record’.

Never before had an athlete run so fast in such high temperatures: Sawe crossed the finish line in 2:02:16, a world lead and the ninth fastest time ever run. He was exactly 101 seconds slower than the world record.

When asked how fast Sabastian Sawe, who has a personal best of 2:02:05, could have run in good weather conditions his Italian coach Claudio Berardelli replied: “I know he was in exceptionally good shape. But I do not know what would have been possible.“

The fact that 30 year-old Sabastian Sawe was able to start his blistering career also down to a bit of luck. Many runners in Kenya have talent but never get the chance to break through because they are not spotted by the main coaches and managers.

Growing up in a poor conditions in the village of Cheukta, not far from the town of Eldoret, in the Kenyan highlands Sabastian Sawe experienced this for many years. He moved to Iten, the Mecca of Kenyan elite running, and joined training groups. But no one discovered his great talent.

Sabastian Sawe then turned to his uncle Abraham Chepkirwok, who had supported him on several occasions before.

Chepkirwok was an 800m runner who competed for Uganda. In 2007 he was fourth in the World Championships and he still holds the national record with 1:43.72.

Chepkirwok’s neighbour Abel Mutai, who won the bronze medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2012 London Olympics, is the assistant coach at Claudio Berardelli’s training camp in Kapsabet.

“When Abel approached me I said, okay because it’s you, Sabastian can come. He was initially in our other camp for long-distance track runners. Then we moved him to the road and marathon runners and eventually his talent became obvious,“ says Berardelli, who has been working as a coach in Kenya for over 20 years and runs the high altitude training camp in Kapsabet for Gianni Demadonna’s Italian athlete management group.

Sabastian Sawe’s international career began with a sensational victory at the 2022 Seville Half Marathon.

“Gianni looked for a pacemaker to bring to the race and I said I think I have someone who can do it – we should give it a try,“ recalls Claudio Berardelli. Sabastian Sawe flew to Seville and won the race with a world lead of 59:02.

“I was lucky to get such an athlete. He is like a gift to me. Sabastian has everything it takes – he has incredible training ability, is mentally strong and at the same time a very humble person,“ says Berardelli. “I can’t predict what will be possible – but I’m looking forward to find out.“

“I wanted to run really fast and gave it my best, but the weather was too hot. I hope I will have better weather next time,“ said Sabastian Sawe. “I liked the course, it is very good and fast.“

It is quite possible that Sabastian Sawe will compete in Berlin again next year. Perhaps he can then repeat Patrick Makau’s feat.