Yalemzerf Yehualaw delivered an outstanding performance at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, breaking the course record with a personal best of 2:16:50. In doing so, she also set the Dutch all-comers’ records — the fastest marathon ever run by a woman in the Netherlands.
The 25-year-old Ethiopian, expertly paced by her NN Running Team teammates Abel Sikowo and Björn Koreman, surged ahead just before the halfway point, finishing 30 seconds faster than the previous record held by her teammate Almaz Ayana. It was a triumphant day for the NN Running Team, with Ethiopia’s Haven Hailu also securing a personal best of 2:19:27 to claim second place.
In the men’s race, the NN Running Team continued to shine as Maru Teferi secured third place with a personal best of 2:05:39 after a tough battle.
Reflecting on her victory, a jubilant Yehualaw said, “I’m so happy to have achieved a personal best and set the course record in Amsterdam. I struggled in the last 3km, but that’s part of the marathon!”
Earlier in the day, in India, Joshua Cheptegei claimed victory at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon with a time of 59:46. The Olympic 10,000m champion started conservatively but made his move around the 19-kilometer mark, taking the lead with just 750 meters to go and powering through to victory.
Ecstatic about his win, Cheptegei reflected, “This victory means so much to me because India has been a big part of my career. Ten years ago, I ran the Bangalore 10K, my first road race outside Uganda, and it was a breakthrough moment. That race led to ten years of success. My team and I believed that if I wanted another successful decade, I needed to return to India. I’m so happy!”
On the women’s side, Tiruye Mesfin of Ethiopia secured third place with a time of 1:09:42, capping off a remarkable weekend for the NN Running Team, the agency that looks after Cheptegei, Yehaulaw and Mesfin.
