Lemi Berhanu wins Amsterdam Marathon, Buze Diriba fastest woman in the Amsterdam Marathon
Ethiopian runners Lemi Berhanu and Buze Diriba claimed victory at the 51st Amsterdam Marathon, with Diriba setting a new women's course record. Despite cold and wet weather, both races featured competitive finishes, while Dutch athletes Mikky Keetels and Noah Schutte recorded strong performances for the home nation.
Ethiopian runner Lemi Berhanu won the 51st Amsterdam Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:03:33 at the Olympic Stadium. Berhanu secured his victory after a late-race duel with Kenyan runner Nicholas Kipkorir, breaking away shortly after the 40-kilometer mark. Despite cold and rainy weather conditions, his performance was nearly a new course record. On the women's side, Buze Diriba set a new course record of 2:16:12, leading an all-Ethiopian podium that included Anyalem Desta and Meseret Belete.
Local athletes also achieved notable results during the event. Mikky Keetels was the top Dutch woman with a personal best of 2:30:36, while Noah Schutte finished as the fastest Dutch man at 2:09:35. Additionally, veteran athlete Khalid Choukoud set a new Dutch record for competitors aged 40 and older, despite struggling with the challenging weather. The race saw a large leading group stay together for 30 kilometers before high-intensity surges by the top contenders narrowed the field in the final stages of the 42.195-kilometer course.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
