Vincent Kipchumba, Degitu Azimeraw win 44th Amsterdam Marathon

Vincent Kipchumba won the 44th TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday. The 29-year-old Kenyan ran 42 kilometers and 195 meters in 2 hours, 5 minutes an 9 seconds. Among the women, Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw won with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 26 seconds, setting a new course record for the female runners.

"I was convinced throughout the race that I could win, even when I had to leave a hole in the Vondelpark. I felt strong and was prepared for anything", Kipchumba said after the race. The men's podium was filled by Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa in second place with a time of 2:05:16, and Kenyan Elisha Rotich with a time of 2:05:18. The course record for the men - 2:04:06 set by Lawrence Cherono last year - remained in tack.

"I did not expect such a fast time", a broadly smiling Azimeraw said after the race. The women's second and third podium spots went to Tigist Girma with a time of 2:19:52, and Azmera Gebru with a time of 2:20:48. All three spots on the podium were filled by women from Ethiopia. And all three women beat the previous course record - 2:21:09 set by Meseret Hailu in 2012.

Among the Dutch runners, Abdi Nageeye looked good for a spot in the podium for the first 21.1 kilometers of the marathon. But after that hamstring issues forced him to lower the pace. At a time of 2:07:39 he crossed the finish line, ending in 9th place in the marathon, but winning the Dutch title. Silver went to Frank Futselaar with a time of 2:14:08, and bronze to Roel Wijmenga at 2:19:55.

Bo Ummels won the Dutch title among the women, with a time of 2;32:34. She finished in eighth place in the marathon. Silver went to Miranda Boonstra with a time of 2:45:58, and bronze to Mirjam Koersen at 2:51:55.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the title sponsor for the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, announced that around 47 thousand participants from 140 different countries raised a total of 185,617 euros for UMC Cancer Center Amsterdam through the marathon. "It's incredible, so much money for Cancer Center Amsterdam", Geert Kazemier, director of the Cancer Center Amsterdam, said on the marathon website. "Together with TCS we are a great team. More than 185,000 euros for groundbreaking cancer research. Thank you so much!"