Dutch runners win national marathon titles as Kenyan sets Amsterdam course record

Dutch runners Khalid Choukoud and Anne Luijten secured the national marathon titles during the 48th Amsterdam Marathon, while Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba of Kenya set a new course record.

Kipchumba, 25, finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 2 hours, 3 minutes and 31 seconds, breaking the previous Amsterdam record of 2:03:39 set by 2021 Olympic champion Tamirat Tola. Among women, Ethiopian Aynalem Desta won in 2:17:38.

Choukoud, 35, captured his fourth Dutch marathon title—having previously won in 2016, 2021, and 2022—clocking 2:08:00, well ahead of his fellow Dutch competitors. "One of my best marathons ever," Choukoud said. "The Dutch title was the most important. Doing it this way makes it even better. That I can still show this at my age gives me confidence. I want to maintain this level for years."

Anne Luijten, 32, also defended her national crown for the third consecutive year. Having finished seventeenth at the World Championships just five weeks ago, Luijten strategically paced herself through the Amsterdam race.

Mikky Keetels, a relative newcomer and stewardess who started fast, led early but Luijten overtook her to win in 2:28:27, more than 30 seconds ahead of second-place Jill Holterman. Keetels earned bronze in her Dutch Championship debut, finishing in 2:31:23, nearly three minutes faster than her personal best.