The 34th edition of the Amsterdam Marathon has been run under perfect
circumstances. The weather was great for running at Sunday 18 October. The
relatively unknown Kenian athlete Gilbert Yegon broke the course record in
his debute. He ran 2.06.18. First woman was the Ethiopian runner
Eyerusalem Kuma. She won in 2.27.43.
The Amsterdam Marathon is known for its enthusiastic audience along the
fast course and for the beautifull buildings, musea and the famous
Vondelpark wherethrough the atletes run two times. And for its start and
finish in the amazing ancient Olympic Stadium. 26.000 People registered
the past months for a startingplace at the marathon, the Mizuno Half
Marathon or the Menzis 7,5 km, among them 9.000 foreigners who stayed a
few days in the capital city.
Because the weather circumstances were ideal, fast times were expected. The
debutants ran a great race. Yegon broke the course records which was held
by Haile Gebrselassie since 2005 (2.06.20). His fellow countryman Elijah
Keitany, who debuted as well, ran 2.06.41. In total there were five
atletes who ran faster than 2.08.
The women stayed together for a while, but finally Kuma was the fastest.
Second became Woinshet Girma from Ethiopia as well. She ran 2.29.50. Third
became the Dutch girl Hilda Kibet, who is the European cross country
champion from 2008. She ran a personal best in 2.30.33. As the Amsterdam
Marathon also was the Dutch Championship, Kibeet became national champion.
Photo: Winner Gilbert Yegon in a new course record. (Credit: Tom Metiary)
Photo: First women Eyerusalem Kuma. (Credit: Tom Metiary)
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