World marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe has thrown his weight behind Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa to break the women’s world record in the near future.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsSawe, speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview this week, lauded Assefa’s mentality as one of the reasons the 29-year-old would stand atop the women’s marathon record books, usurping the current fastest time of 2:09.56, held by Kenya’s Ruth Chepng'etich since October 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_9994821##"For sure she will because Tigst is a very strong woman, and her mentality is something else,” Sawe said, when asked of Assefa’s capability to chase down the world mark. “She always has the courage to push her limits. She's always been a winner."Sawe’s comments came just after the Ethiopian had claimed her third Berlin marathon victory on Sunday, 27 September, when she streaked clear to win in a time of 2:11.04.Omanyala explains opening sprints club in St Joseph’s Boys KitaleRecounting Assefa’s victory, Sawe was slightly down on how the race transpired near the end, when the five-time major marathon champion appeared to struggle with a Achilles injury right at the 40-kilometer mark, derailing her quest for a world record attempt.World record attempt comes at cost as Assefa faces six-month layoff"When I saw what happened I was shocked because she was running a good race this year in Berlin,” Sawe, who is also out of action with a tibial stress fracture, said of the moment Assefa began running with a pronounced limp, forcing her initial world-record pace to drop dramatically. “Everything was perfect for her. She was running to achieve everything she had worked for."Sabastian Sawe plays unique role in deciding next year's dates for London MarathonDespite facing all that adversity, Assefa, who also holds the women-only marathon world record, still held on to her new personal best time in the event, while recording the third-fastest time in history.##NAJAVA_MECA_9995888##
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