Running News Daily

Ethiopian distance-running star Lemi Berhanu produced a sensational performance to win the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon in a personal best of 2:03:33 on Sunday, overcoming fierce opposition from Kenya's Nicholas Kipkorir before unleashing a decisive finishing surge in the closing kilometre.

The 31-year-old's victory was a remarkable demonstration of endurance, tactical patience and determination. Having arrived in the Dutch capital with a previous personal best of 2:04:33, Berhanu improved his lifetime best by exactly one minute, delivering the fastest marathon of his career on one of the world's most renowned fast courses.

However, the victory was far from straightforward. Kenya's Kipkorir mounted a determined challenge in the closing stages, turning the contest into a gripping battle between two athletes determined to claim the Amsterdam crown.

With only a few kilometres remaining, Kipkorir surged towards the front, applying relentless pressure and forcing Berhanu to dig deep to remain in contention. The Kenyan's acceleration threatened to shift the balance of the race, creating an intense duel as the finish line drew closer.

Berhanu refused to surrender. Remaining composed under pressure, the Ethiopian stayed close to his rival, conserving enough energy to respond when the decisive moment arrived. Every stride carried enormous significance as the two leaders fought for supremacy in the closing kilometres.

Then came the final kilometre.

With victory hanging in the balance, Berhanu unleashed a devastating finishing surge, finding another gear when it mattered most. His acceleration proved decisive, allowing him to edge away from Kipkorir and secure a memorable victory. The Kenyan fought bravely to the finish, but Berhanu's perfectly timed move ultimately made the difference.

Kipkorir crossed the line in 2:03:39, just six seconds behind the winner with a huge personal best, while compatriot Patrick Mosin completed the podium in 2:03:58. Their performances underlined the extraordinary quality of the men's field, which produced remarkable depth and speed throughout the race.

Berhanu's winning time was also just three seconds outside the Amsterdam Marathon course record of 2:03:30, established by Kenya's Geoffrey Kipchumba in 2025. Kipchumba returned to defend his title, but it was Berhanu who stole the spotlight with a performance that combined tactical intelligence with an exceptional finishing kick.

The Ethiopian's triumph carries additional significance given his long journey in elite distance running. In 2016, at just 21 years old, he announced himself on the international stage by winning the prestigious Boston Marathon. That breakthrough established him as one of Ethiopia's promising marathon talents and appeared to herald a career filled with major international victories.

Over the following decade, Berhanu continued building his career through international competitions, including races in Mumbai and Prague. Now, ten years after his Boston breakthrough, he has delivered another defining performance, demonstrating that experience and persistence can still produce extraordinary results at the highest level.

His Amsterdam victory also reinforces the race's reputation as a destination for world-class marathon performances. Known for its predominantly flat course and competitive elite fields, the Dutch capital continues to attract athletes looking to challenge their personal bests and produce exceptional times.

The 2026 men's race provided further evidence of that reputation, with all 10 leading finishers recording times of 2:05:16 or faster. Kenyan runners occupied five of the top six positions, highlighting the country's formidable depth in international marathon running.

2026 Amsterdam Marathon Men's Top 10 Results

1. Lemi Berhanu (Ethiopia) — 2:03:33

2. Nicholas Kipkorir (Kenya) — 2:03:39

3. Patrick Mosin (Kenya) — 2:03:58

4. Kalipus Lomwai (Kenya) — 2:04:09

5. Sila Kiptoo (Kenya) — 2:04:13

6. Justus Kangogo (Kenya) — 2:04:24

7. Jonathan Korir (Kenya) — 2:04:53

8. Isaia Lasoi (Kenya) — 2:04:57

9. Yihunilign Adane (Ethiopia) — 2:05:16

10. Yohei Ikeda (Japan) — 2:05:16

For Berhanu, however, the numbers tell only part of the story. His victory was built on patience under pressure, the courage to withstand Kipkorir's late challenge and the strength to produce a decisive acceleration when the race was on the line. A minute faster than his previous best, he has transformed a memorable win into a personal milestone.

Amsterdam has once again delivered a spectacular marathon, raising an increasingly compelling question for the global running community: does a race capable of producing such depth, speed and drama deserve a place among the Abbott World Marathon Majors?

With another outstanding edition now complete, Berhanu's triumph has given the Dutch capital a compelling new chapter in its marathon history.

The women’s race at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions in recent years, with a deep international field set to take on the fast Dutch course on Sunday, October 18.

At the centre of the contest will be four Ethiopian athletes who have already broken the 2:20 barrier, creating the prospect of a fascinating battle for victory and a possible assault on the course record of 2:16:52.

Defending champion Aynalem Desta will return to Amsterdam looking to retain her title after producing the biggest performance of her career at last year’s 50th edition. Desta won in a personal best of 2:17:37, establishing herself among the leading marathoners in the field and setting the benchmark for this year’s contenders.

Standing in her way will be fellow Ethiopian Meseret Belete Tola, a former Amsterdam champion who knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the course. Belete Tola captured the 2023 edition in 2:18:21, and her return adds another layer of experience and proven quality to an already formidable lineup.

The field also includes Mestawut Fikir Truneh, who arrives with an impressive marathon pedigree. Truneh finished runner-up at the 2024 Berlin Marathon in 2:18:48, demonstrating her ability to compete at the highest level on one of the world's major marathon stages.

Completing the quartet of sub-2:20 Ethiopians is Buze Diriba, whose personal best of 2:19:34 places her firmly among the leading contenders. With four athletes possessing credentials below 2:20, the race is likely to develop into a tightly contested battle from the opening kilometres.

The depth extends well beyond the leading quartet. Desi Jisa Mokonin, representing Bahrain, Yeshi Kalayu Chekole of Ethiopia and Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet of Eritrea have all established themselves as serious marathon competitors with performances approaching the 2:20 mark.

Another major name to watch is Abeba Aregawi, the former 1500m world champion representing Sweden. Aregawi has successfully transferred her talents to the marathon and made headlines earlier this year by setting a Swedish national record of 2:23:12 on her debut. Her presence adds another intriguing dimension to an already high-quality field.

Amsterdam’s marathon course has consistently provided an opportunity for elite athletes to produce fast times, and this year’s women’s lineup has the depth to turn the race into a genuine test of both championship racing and outright speed.

With four athletes already inside 2:20, two former Amsterdam champions returning to the start line and several other accomplished marathoners ready to challenge them, the battle is expected to remain open deep into the race.

The ultimate target will be the Amsterdam women’s course record of 2:16:52. Whether the leading contenders can threaten that mark remains to be seen, but the quality assembled for October 18 ensures that the record will be firmly in the spotlight when the race reaches its spectacular finish inside the Olympic Stadium.

Kenyan distance runner Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi is set to make his long-awaited marathon debut at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18, stepping up to the 42.195-kilometre distance for the first time in what promises to be a high-quality international field.

Lasoi arrives in Amsterdam with an impressive credential over the half marathon, having clocked a personal best of 58:10. His transition to the marathon will therefore be one of the major storylines to follow as he takes on a distance more than twice as demanding as the half marathon.

The 26-year-old Kenyan will face a formidable lineup that includes several athletes with marathon personal bests below 2:05. Leading the field is compatriot Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba, the defending champion and current Amsterdam course-record holder after his 2:03:30 victory last year. Kipchumba will return to the Dutch capital looking to defend his title and challenge his own record.

Ethiopia's Haymanot Alew is another major name on the start list, boasting a 2:03:31 personal best from Berlin in 2024, just one second outside Kipchumba's Amsterdam course record.

His compatriot Tsegaye Getachew will also return to a race where he has enjoyed considerable success. Getachew won the Amsterdam Marathon in 2022 and 2024 before finishing second last year in a personal-best 2:04:18.

The field also features Ethiopian marathoner Lemi Berhanu, who owns a personal best of 2:04:33, while Israel's Maru Teferi brings a 2:04:44 personal best set in Valencia in 2024.

With the Amsterdam course known for its fast profile and the race carrying a World Athletics Platinum Label, the stage is set for another potentially fast edition. The marathon starts at the Olympic Stadium, with the course taking runners past landmarks including the Rijksmuseum, along the Amstel River and through Vondelpark before returning to the Olympic Stadium for the finish.

For Lasoi, however, the focus will be on answering one intriguing question: how will his exceptional half-marathon speed translate over the full marathon distance?

His debut will provide the first major indication of his potential at 42.195 kilometres, while placing him alongside an experienced group of elite marathoners capable of producing world-class performances.

The confirmed names currently include Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi, Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba, Haymanot Alew, Tsegaye Getachew, Lemi Berhanu and Maru Teferi, setting up a fascinating international contest in Amsterdam on October 18.