Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba smashed the women’s course record while compatriot Lemi Berhanu narrowly missed the men’s mark as they claimed the elite titles at the 2026 Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday (18 October).
Diriba produced the standout performance in wet conditions, clocking 2:16:12 at the World Athletics Platinum Label race. The time cut 3:22 from her previous personal best and broke the 2:16:52 course record set by Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2024. It also moves the 32-year-old to 16th on the world all-time list.
Defending champion Aynalem Desta remained in contention deep into the race before Diriba pulled clear in the closing kilometres to win by 54 seconds. Desta was second in a PB of 2:17:06, while Meseret Belete, the 2023 Amsterdam champion, completed an all-Ethiopian podium with a PB of 2:18:06.
The men’s race produced a much closer finish.
Berhanu, the 2016 Boston Marathon champion, won in 2:03:33, exactly one minute faster than his previous best and just three seconds outside the course record set by Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba last year.
Defending champion Kipchumba fell out of the lead group around halfway, but a large pack remained together into the closing stages. Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir then made his move approaching the Vondelpark, with only Berhanu able to follow.
The pair were still together around 40km before Berhanu moved ahead and opened a six-second advantage on the run to the Olympic Stadium. Kipkorir finished second in 2:03:39, taking 2:28 off the time he ran on his marathon debut in Boston in April.
The Kenyan had won silver at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen only four weeks earlier, finishing the half marathon in 58:11.
Patrick Mosin made it three men under 2:04, finishing third in a PB of 2:03:58. Eight runners in total broke 2:05.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/amsterdam-marathon-2026-all-results-times-standings-list
