The streets of London are set to burn this April. Defending champion Sabastian Sawe has thrown down the gauntlet, declaring his intent not just to retain his London Marathon title, but to obliterate the course record in what promises to be the fastest race in history.

Sawe, who stunned the world with his victory last year, headlines a field so stacked with talent it resembles a global championship final. His return to the British capital on April 26 is not a victory lap; it is a defense of his territory against the most dangerous runners on the planet, including Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and the legendary Joshua Cheptegei.

"I Must Be Faster"

"I am sure with the quality of athletes coming to London it will take another fast time to win again," Sawe admitted, referencing the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of 2:01:25. Sawe’s winning time last year was 2:02:27—the second fastest ever on the course. To win this year, he knows he must push the boundaries of human endurance even further.

The threat from Uganda is existential. Jacob Kiplimo, the World Cross Country champion and last year’s runner-up, is hungry for revenge. The rivalry between the two East African nations has moved from the track to the tarmac, and London will be the battleground.

• The Ethiopian Threat: As if the Ugandan duo wasn’t enough, Olympic champion Tamirat Tola and the debuting Yomif Kejelcha add explosive speed to the mix. Kejelcha’s transition from track to marathon is one of the most anticipated debuts in years.
• The Kiptum Shadow: The race will inevitably be run in the shadow of Kelvin Kiptum, whose tragic death in a road accident still hangs over the sport. Sawe has hinted that a record-breaking run would be the ultimate tribute to his fallen compatriot.

A Clash of Titans

Race organizers have assembled a "field of death"—any one of five men could win, and any one of them could break the world record. But Sawe is the man with the target on his back. He has tasted victory on the Mall, and he is not ready to surrender the crown.

Come April, the world will not just be watching a race; they will be witnessing a war for supremacy on the concrete canyons of London.