NOS Sport•yesterday, 12:06•Adjusted yesterday, 12:21
Abdi Nageeye has won the Rotterdam marathon for the second time in his career. The Dutchman left his last remaining competitor, the Ethiopian Amedework Walelegn, behind in the last kilometer with a blazing acceleration and won in 2.04.45.
With that time, 35-year-old Nageeye improved his Dutch record, which stood at 2.04.56 since his previous victory on the Coolsingel two years ago. For the sixth time he was crowned Dutch champion at the classic distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters.
Nageeye felt so strong that it “seemed like we were jogging” to him. Watch the reaction of the winner of the Rotterdam marathon here:
Nageeye triumphs: ‘Easiest marathon ever, as if we were jogging’
Ashete Bekere was the fastest woman in Rotterdam. The 35-year-old Ethiopian won for the second time in Rotterdam in 2.19.30.
For a long time, Bekere ran more than a minute under the schedule of the course record, which has been held by her compatriot Tiki Gelana since 2012, but in the last kilometers the high pace became too much for her.
Luijten is Dutch champion again
Behind Bekere, Anne Luijten extended her Dutch title with a time of 2.28.46. Luijten, who, like Nageeye, was certain of participating in the Olympic marathon in Paris, ran well ahead of Jill Holterman, the second Dutch woman in Rotterdam, from the start.
Luijten was aiming for a time under two hours and 25 minutes in her fourth marathon, but suffered a major breakdown in the final kilometers and crossed the finish line completely devastated.
Bekere wins in Rotterdam, Luijten Dutch champion in the marathon
Holterman hoped to join the battle for the three Dutch Olympic tickets, but did not come close to the required 2.26.36. Sifan Hassan, like Luijten, already has a ticket in his pocket, Nienke Brinkman still has a chance of third place on the grid.
Kiptum
Before the start, the death of Kelvin Kiptum was commemorated at the bottom of the Erasmus Bridge. The 24-year-old world record holder in the marathon and his coach Gervais Hakizomana died in an accident in Kenya in February. Kiptum would start in Rotterdam, where he would aim for an even faster time and finish within two hours.
Kiptum’s widow was guest of honor in Rotterdam on Sunday, where after a minute of silence more than 17,000 participants started the classic distance. Many runners wore a commemorative ribbon in Kiptum’s honor, but the starting number 1 reserved for him remained out of the race.
NOS Dowager Asenath Rotich during the minute’s silence in memory of Kelvin Kiptum
From the start, Nageeye, including the Ethiopian Birhanu Legese and the Kenyan Kenneth Kipkemoi, moved forward in a compact group at the fastest pace. Under the guidance of pacers, the hunt was on for the course record and also the European record of Bashir Abdi (2.03.36), which the Belgian ran in the autumn of 2021.
This year Nageeye is focusing entirely on the Olympic marathon in Paris. Last month he gained confidence by winning the City Pier City run in The Hague, where he set the Dutch record for the half marathon.
Calm and focused
Under pleasant conditions, Nageeye ran calmly and focused at the back of the leading group during the loop through South Rotterdam. The time after the half marathon (1:01:47) was on track to break the European record.
ANPAbdi Nageeye (with number 4) in the leading group
After crossing the Erasmus Bridge again, the last pacer dropped out and six front runners remained. Nageeye was emphatically at the front of the group, who was clocked above the target time for a European record for the first time at the measuring point after thirty kilometers.
The pace increased again, but it was too fast for the Kenyans Enock Onchari and Lameck To. Nageeye was left with Amedework Walelegn, Kenneth Kipkemoi and Birhanu Legese, who knew the Dutchman’s status and goals and let Nageeye do the leading work.
Kipkemoi fell victim to Nageeye’s pace five kilometers before the finish, Legese also had to let go and the experienced Nageeye chose the right moment for his decisive acceleration in the final kilometer, after which he crossed the line alone with a big smile.
Before the start of the 43rd edition, Lee Towers encouraged the runners. For the last time, after thirty years, he inaugurated the marathon in his city with the song You’ll Never Walk Alone. We spoke to Lee Towers after ‘his last’:
