John Mwangangi wins over 10 miles in Zaandam (© Organisers)
Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and John Mwangangi, USA’s Galen Rupp and Ethiopia’s Ayele Abshero are the big names for the Dam tot Damloop, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race over 10 miles from Amsterdam to Zandaam on Sunday 20 September.
Kipsang, now 33, is the former world record-holder in the marathon with 2:03:23 in the 2013 Berlin race. Last year the Olympic bronze medallist won the New York and London marathons.
But he’s also fast over shorter distances and he clocked 27:53 for 10km in Manchester in June.
Mwangangi won the 2014 Dam tot Damloop in 45:45, and in 2010, (the course record is held by fellow Kenyan Leonard Komon at 44:27 from 2011) and he was also third last year at the Amsterdam Marathon.
Completing a trio of quick Kenyans, Edwin Kiptoo has a half marathon personal best of 59:35.
Rupp is the seven-time US champion over 10,000m and the US record-holder over 25 laps of the track with 26:48.00.
It is a rare road race for the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist who last had a competitive outing on this surface in 2011.
Abshero knows the Dutch roads well and won the 2014 Saucony Egmond Half Marathon. The 24-year-old runner has a marathon personal best of 2:04:23.
Kenya’s Sylvia Kibet was first across the line in the 2012 Dam tot Damloop and this year the two-time world 5000m silver medallist will be coming with her younger sister Ivy, who finished third at the Parelloop 10km in Brunssum, crossing the line in 32.45.
The 25-year-old Risa Takenaka is coming in from Japan to bid for the the first Japanese victory, having won the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia in 2:28:25 two months ago.
Organisers for the IAAF
