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Amsterdam, october 19- In a surprising victory, William Kipsang
broke the course record here in
the ING Amsterdam Marathon. The Kenyan improved on his personal
best by almost six minutes to finish in 2:06.39. That was
eight seconds faster than Fred Kiprop in 1999. Felix Limo
seemed beaten by a surge of his fellow countryman eight kilometers
before the finish in the Amsterdam
Olympic stadium, but the marathon debutant battled back to
finish only three seconds behind Kipsang.
With last years winner Benjamin Kimutai Kosgei (2:07.39),
Rotterdam Marathon winner William Kiplagat (2:07.49) and Robert
Cheruiyot (2:08.13) the first five runners were all from Kenya.
National hero Kamiel Maase got sixth place in a Dutch record
of 2:08.31. He broke the
23 year old mark of Gerard Nijboer (now the Dutch national
marathon coach), who also ran his time of 2:09.01 in Amsterdam.
The outstanding conditions in Amsterdam showed also in the
womens race. Kenyan Margaret Atonondyang led the race through
35 kilometers, running an early pace of sub-2:26. She was
however overtaken by Elena Sampaio from Portugal and Kenyan
debutant Carolina Kwambai. In the final two kilometers Sampaio
easily outsprinted the Kenyan debutant to win in a personal
best of 2:28.06, 41 seconds before Kwambai (2:28.47). Atonondyang
held on to third place (2:29.20), with Hungarian debutant
Beata Rackonzai the fourth athlete under 2:30 (2:29.54).
More to follow
source Wilmar Kortleever for Time-to-Run
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