Kenya’s Angela Tanui is the talk of the world as she wrote her name in the books of the top ten fastest women runners in the world and dominated the course record of the Amsterdam Marathon that was held on Sunday 17th in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tanui crossed the finish line at a time of 2:17:57. Country mate Maureen Chepkemoi finished in 2:20:28. Tanui obliterated the previous course record of two hours, 19 seconds and 26 seconds set by Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw in 2019. Running as part of a lead group of six, Tanui covered the first 10km in 33:00. Shortly after, Ethiopia’s Shasho Insermu dropped back from the lead pack, leaving Tanui, fellow Kenyan Maureen Chepkemoi and Ethiopia’s Haven Hailu, Gabiyanesh Ayele and Worknesh Alemu out in front.
They covered 15km in 49:48 before reaching the half-way point in 1:10:07, suggesting a sub-2:20 finish was possible with a slightly faster second half. Tanui who trains alongside the newly crowned Boston Marathon champion Diana Kipyogei dedicated her hard earned victory to the late Agnes Tirop who was found murdered in her house in Iten.
“I am very happy to have won this race today. As you know we are still mourning one of our own Agnes and that really pushed me to win this race,” said Tanui. In the men’s race Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola brought to an end Kenya’s dominance as he broke the course record winning the race in 2 hours, three minutes and 39 seconds.
Kenya’s Bernard Koech (2:04:09), Jonathan Korir (2:04:32), Kenneth Keter (2:06:05) and Bernard Kipyego (2:06:32) placed second, fourth, eighth and ninth respectively.