The 29-year old Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai was the surprising winner of the 32nd ING Amsterdam Marathon. In 2.06.29 Mutai finished on the first place in the Olympic Stadium. His time was just 9 seconds too slow to beat the course record of Haile Gebrselasssie of 2005.
This year only the same Gebrselassie was faster on the world ranking 2007 with his world record. Till today Mutai was not faster than 2.13.06. Impressive was also the performance of his fellow countryman Richard Limo, who finished on the second place in his first marathon ever in 2.06.45.
The battle for the third place was a photo finish. James Rotich was les than a second faster than his Kenyan fellow countryman and favourite Paul Kirui both in 2.07.12. Eleven athletes finished within 2.10.00.
Magdaline Chemjor winner in the ladies race
In the ladies race Kenyan Magdaline Chemjor took the victory. The 28 year old Chemjor won in her debut on the marathon in 2.28.16. The Polish Dorota Gruca (2.30.10) was just a little faster than the Ethiopian Ayelech Worku (2.30.15).
In total 24,000 participants took part in the ING Amsterdam Marathon. A record!
