Amsterdam Marathon: Lemi Berhanu wins in 2:03:33, top eleven under 2:06

Ethiopian Lemi Berhanu won the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in 2:03:33, under continuous rain. He missed the course record, held by Kenyan Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba at 2:03:30, by three seconds, according to the results site World Track, which notes that the Dutch event holds the Platinum label, the highest in road athletics.

Winner of the 2016 Boston Marathon, Berhanu shaved nearly a minute off his personal best, which was 2:04:33. Only three seconds separated an Ethiopian from a mark set by a Kenyan: in the marathon, East Africa is no longer running against the rest of the world, it is running against itself.

Eight runners under 2:05, an almost unprecedented density

The highlight of the day is not just the winner's time. The first eleven all finished under 2:06 and the first eight under 2:05: according to the specialized site Watch Athletics, this had only happened twice in the history of the marathon. Only 2:07 separated the first from the eleventh.

Behind Berhanu, Kenya took six of the next eight places. Nicholas Kipkorir, second in 2:03:39, set a personal best following his silver medal at the Copenhagen World Half Marathon Championships. He was followed by Patrick Mosin (2:03:58), Kalipus Lomwai (2:04:09), Sila Kiptoo (2:04:13), Justus Kangogo (2:04:24), Jonathan Korir (2:04:53), and Isaia Lasoi (2:04:57).

Zimbabwe, Eritrea, and South Africa in the top 30

The race was not just an Ethiopian and Kenyan affair. Zimbabwean Godwin Katakura took twelfth place in 2:06:23, ahead of Eritreans Henok Tesfay (2:07:19) and Merhawi Kesete (2:07:21). South Africans Cwenga Nose (2:09:15), George Kusche (2:10:09), and Samuel Cijimpi Moloi (2:11:13) complete a continental presence that extends well beyond the Rift Valley.

A 100% Ethiopian women's podium

In the women's race, Buze Diriba set the only record broken of the day: 2:16:12, a new course record, which had belonged to Yalemzerf Yehualaw since 2024 with 2:16:52. Diriba, whose best time was 2:19:34, finished ahead of her compatriots Aynalem Desta (2:17:06) and Meseret Belete (2:18:06), both also setting personal bests. The top six places went to Ethiopia.

On the richest and most demanding road racing circuit, Ethiopian and Kenyan training programs continue to set the pace—and produce a depth of field that no other continent approaches.