Diriba smashes Amsterdam Marathon course record as Berhanu wins

Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba broke the Amsterdam Marathon course record on Sunday 18 October 2026, winning the women’s race in 2:16:12 through wet streets in the Dutch capital, World Athletics reported. Her compatriot Lemi Berhanu completed an Ethiopian double, taking the men’s title in 2:03:33.

Both winners ran well inside their personal bests. However, Berhanu fell just three seconds short of a second course record on the same morning.

How Diriba took the Amsterdam Marathon course record

Diriba came into the race with a best of 2:19:34, so few tipped her to threaten the course mark. According to World Athletics, the 32-year-old cut more than three minutes from that time.

The lead group passed halfway in 1:08:34. After that, Diriba stayed patient until the closing stages, when she made her decisive move.

By 40km she was about 30 seconds ahead. She then stretched that gap to almost a minute at the finish in the Olympic Stadium.

Her time took 40 seconds off the previous record of 2:16:52, which Yalemzerf Yehualaw set in 2024. It is also a Dutch all-comers’ record, the fastest women’s marathon ever run on Dutch soil, World Athletics said.

Ethiopian sweep of the women’s podium

Behind Diriba, defending champion Aynalem Desta took second in 2:17:06, a personal best. Meanwhile, Meseret Belete, the 2023 winner, was third in 2:18:06, also a career best.

Tiringo Mulu completed an all-Ethiopian top four in 2:20:36, World Athletics’ results show. Mikky Keetels was the leading Dutch woman, finishing 14th in 2:30:36, as reported by NL Times.

Berhanu edges Kipkorir in men’s race

The men’s race stayed tight for much longer. According to World Athletics, the pacemakers took the leaders through halfway in 1:02:24, and a large group was still together at 35km.

Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir then pushed the pace near Vondelpark. Berhanu went with him, and the pair reached 40km together, 11 seconds clear of Patrick Mosin.

In the final two kilometres, Berhanu pulled away to win by six seconds. Kipkorir clocked 2:03:39 in only his second marathon, while Mosin was third in 2:03:58. Both Kenyans set personal bests.

Berhanu’s winning time was three seconds outside the course record of 2:03:30, which Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba set in 2025. The Kenyan defending champion dropped out soon after halfway this time.

Depth on a wet day

The conditions did little to slow the field. Remarkably, the first eight men all finished under 2:05, World Athletics said.

For the home crowd, Noah Schutte was the fastest Dutch man. He placed 25th in 2:09:35, only seven seconds off his best, according to Runners.nl.

Amsterdam is a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, the highest tier on the road-running calendar. The next World Marathon Major is the New York City Marathon on Sunday 1 November 2026.

For more on African stars making their mark around the world, visit our Athletes section.