Runners and fans at the Rotterdam Marathon observed a poignant moment of silence on Sunday morning before the race, in memory of world marathon record-holder, Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, who died tragically in a car accident earlier this year. Many runners also paid tribute to his legacy by wearing black ribbons in his honour.
Kiptum, 24, had been slated to compete in Rotterdam, and had been hoping to challenge the 2:00 barrier. He made history by breaking the men’s marathon world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, in an astonishing time of 2:00:35, becoming the first man to run under the 2:01 mark.
Olympic silver medalist Nageeye reclaimed his Rotterdam Marathon title from 2022 and set a new Dutch national record in the process, crossing the line in 2:04:45 and besting his PB by 11 seconds. Nageeye secured victory by a mere five-second margin ahead of Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn, the 2020 world half marathon champion, with Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia claiming the third spot in 2:05:16.
The race began in near-perfect conditions, with a group of nine runners closely trailing the pacemakers through the initial kilometeres. By the time the runners hit the 30K mark only seven runners remained in contention. With tactical precision, Nageeye surged ahead in the final kilometeres to clinch his second victory in the race.
In 2022, Nageeye became the first Dutch runner to win the Rotterdam Marathon, setting what was at the time a new Dutch record of 2:04:56. The Somali-born runner, 35, took third in the New York City Marathon in the same year, and captured silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon. The course record at the Rotterdam Marathon is 2:03.36, set three years ago by Tokyo Olympics marathon bronze medallist, Belgiums’s Bashir Abdi.
Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere dominates women’s field
In the women’s race, 2019 Berlin Marathon winner Bekere also reclaimed her title as Rotterdam Marathon champion (Bekere won the race in 2019 in 2:22:55), capturing the win in 2:19:20. Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot was second in 2:20:57, followed by Kenya’s Selly Chepyengo in 2:22:46.
Net geen parcoursrecord bij de dames maar een fantastische 2.19.30 voor Ashete Bekere bij #demooiste @MarathonRdam pic.twitter.com/iRPObNUMoV
— Tim de Haan (@timmietovenaar) April 14, 2024
Bekere led from start to finish, followed by a lead pack of Sisay Meseret Gola of Ethiopia, Chepyengo and Kibiwot—the group cruised at course-record speed through the early kilometeres of the race. Bekere surged ahead and had an eight-second lead by the 30K mark, and steadily built a commanding from there to secure the win.
Bekere,35, took third at the London Marathon in 2021, and second at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon.
Top Canadians
Guillaume Larose-Gringas from Lac Beauport, Que. was the top Canadian, finishing in 2:33:37. Fellow Quebecois runner Marc Olivier-Simard was second in 2:42:27, and Charles Castonguay, also of Quebec, was the third Canadian in 2:45:13. For full results of the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon, head here.
