Ethiopian marathon runner Yalemzerf Yehualaw (© Getty Images)
Yalemzerf Yehualaw returned to winning ways at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in a course record of 2:16:52 on Sunday (20).
Tsegaye Getachew made it an Ethiopian double as he regained the title he won two years ago, winning the men’s race in 2:05:38 in a close finish from compatriot Boki Asefa.
Yehualaw, winner in London two years ago, was looking to rebound following her eighth-place finish in the British capital earlier this year. The 25-year-old set out with clear intent, passing through 10km in 32:23 before breaking away from her last remaining challenger, Bahrain’s Desi Jisa, and reaching the half-way point in 1:08:00.
Jisa managed to hold on to second place through half way, which she reached in 1:08:14, 30 seconds ahead of Haven Hailu, Winfridah Moseti and Bedatu Hirpa. But the chase trio managed to catch the Bahraini runner at 25km (1:21:15).
By this point, Yehualaw had a lead of almost a minute and was showing no signs of slowing down. She passed 30km in 1:36:23, 63 seconds ahead of Hailu and Moseti, and continued to pull away from the field.
The former world 10km record-holder went on to finish in 2:16:52, chopping 28 seconds from the course record set two years ago by Almaz Ayana. Moseti’s challenge faded in the closing stages, leaving Hailu to finish second in 2:19:29. Moseti was third in 2:20:27, just three seconds ahead of her fellow Kenyan Gladys Chesir.
The course record may never have been in jeopardy in the men’s race, but it was highly competitive throughout. A pack of 15 runners passed through 10km in 29:27 and 14 of those were still together at half way, which was reached in 1:02:31.
Getachew, the 2022 winner, was among the large lead pack, along with fellow Ethiopian Asefa, world silver medallist Maru Teferi of Israel, and Kenyan trio Justus Kangogo, Kennedy Kimutai and Felix Kipkoech.
The pack started to whittle down throughout the second half, but three men – Getachew, Asefa and Teferi – entered Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium just a few strides apart from one another.
Just as he had done two years ago, Getachew proved to have the stronger finish as he held off his opponents to win in 2:05:38. Asefa was a close second in 2:05:40, just two seconds ahead of Teferi.
Leading results
Women
1 Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 2:16:52
2 Haven Hailu (ETH) 2:19:29
3 Winfridah Moseti (KEN) 2:20:27
4 Gladys Chesir (KEN) 2:20:30
5 Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:21:09
6 Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:24
Men
1 Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:05:38
2 Boki Asefa (ETH) 2:05:40
3 Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:05:42
4 Justus Kangogo (KEN) 2:06:45
5 Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 2:07:13
6 Felix Kipkoech (KEN) 2:07:39
Cheptegei wins in Delhi
World and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei lived up to expectations to take the men’s title at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Alemaddis Eyayu was a surprise winner of the women’s race at the World Athletics Gold Label road race on Sunday (20).
Kenya’s world 5km bronze medallist Alex Matata led the men’s race for most of the way. But as he entered the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in the closing stages, Cheptegei unleashed his trademark finishing kick that has carried him to multiple major titles.
The Ugandan crossed the line in 59:46 as Matata finished second in 59:53 ahead of fellow Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir (59:59). Two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris was fifth in 1:00:52.
“This win is special to me because it’s my first ever half marathon victory,” said Cheptegei. “I felt good throughout the race, despite the slow start. I felt some problems in my feet around 16-17km, but I decided to push and catch up with Nicholas, and then we pushed each other for about two kilometres.”
Cynthia Limo, the winner here back in 2015, led during the early stages of the women’s race with Ethiopian duo Alemaddis Eyayu and Tiruye Mesfin close behind.
Eyayu and Limo passed through 10km together before the Ethiopian pulled ahead in the second half. Eyayu went on to win in 1:08:17, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Limo. Mesfin clocked 1:09:42 for third while British record-holder Eilish McColgan was third (1:09:55).
