Uganda’s long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei ran a new personal best of 2:04:52 at the 50th TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, confirming his growing mastery of the marathon distance.
Though he finished fifth, the two-time Olympic and four-time world champion over 5,000m and 10,000m demonstrated the same relentless drive that has defined his track career.
Cheptegei stayed with the leading pack from the start, pushing alongside some of the sport’s elite, including Kenya’s Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew and Getaneh Molla.
His effort highlighted his potential in the marathon, signaling that greater achievements may still lie ahead.
The race itself was historic. Kipchumba stormed to victory in a course record 2:03:30, breaking the previous mark of 2:03:39 set by 2021 Olympic champion Tamirat Tola.
Ethiopians Getachew (2:04:18) and Molla (2:04:19) finished a second apart, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay claimed fourth in 2:04:36, just ahead of Cheptegei.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia dominated with Aynalem Desta winning in 2:17:37, followed by Bertukan Welde (2:17:56) and Mekides Shimeles (2:19:56).
