Kerr, Sawe Nominated for World Athletics Moment
World Athletics has nominated Josh Kerr's mile world record and Sabastian Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon for its moment of the year award.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Running
World Athletics has nominated Josh Kerr's mile world record and Sabastian Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon for its moment of the year. The World Athletics Awards ceremony takes place in Monaco on 29 November.
Why it matters
The nominations recognize two of the sport's most notable performances in recent months, placing both athletes in the running for the governing body's top honor. The ceremony will also recognize athlete of the year, rising star and coach awards.
Kerr's mile time of 3 minutes 42.66 seconds beat El Guerrouj's 27-year-old record by almost half a second. Sawe's 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds marathon was more than a minute faster than Kiptum's 2:00:35 mark.
The players
Josh Kerr
A British middle-distance runner who set the mile world record, known for his strong finishes in major championship races.
Sabastian Sawe
A Kenyan marathon runner who became the first to break two hours in the event, following a strong run of recent marathon victories.
World Athletics
The international governing body for track and field, athletics and road running, which organizes the annual awards and sanctions world records.
The details
Kerr set the mile record at the London Diamond League in July before a home crowd at London Stadium. Sawe won the London Marathon in April, with Yomif Kejelcha finishing second in under two hours and Jacob Kiplimo third.
Timeline
2023: Kelvin Kiptum sets the marathon record of 2:00:35.
April 2026: Sabastian Sawe runs the sub-two-hour marathon at the London Marathon.
July 2026: Josh Kerr sets the mile world record at the London Diamond League.
29 November 2026: World Athletics Awards ceremony takes place in Monaco.
Season Trajectory
Sawe's run continues the marathon record progression that Kelvin Kiptum set in 2023 at 2:00:35, now pushed more than a minute further. Kerr's mile mark, the first to break a 27-year-old standard, signals renewed competition at the sport's historic distances.
Fans following the sport can track which performance wins the moment of the year, which will be presented at the 29 November ceremony in Monaco. The nominations also highlight the mile and marathon record marks that current athletes are targeting.
The takeaway
Both nominations show how quickly long-standing distance records can fall when athletes push the limits of pace and endurance. Readers following distance running should watch how the 2027 season responds to these benchmarks.
What happens next
The World Athletics Awards ceremony will be held in Monaco on 29 November, where the moment of the year winner will be announced.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Running section.
