Kenya will field a strong contingent at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon on October 18, with defending champion Geofry Kipchumba and Evaline Chirchir leading the Kenyan team.
The Kenyan lineup includes athletes with marathon personal bests ranging from 2:03:30 to 2:24:52, with two men making their marathon debuts.
Kenyan pacemakers aim to make their mark over the 42.195-kilometer distance in the Dutch capital, competing against Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Bahrain, Israel, and several European nations.
Geofry Kipchumba Leads Men’s Team
Geofry Kipchumba returns to Amsterdam to defend his title after winning the 2025 race in 2:03:30 before finishing second at the Tokyo Marathon in March in 2:03:37.
According to Geofry, he had hoped for a 2:04 but completed the run in less time.
“I am very happy. I felt strong and thought, let me push. I had hoped for 2:04, but this is even faster,” Geofry Kipchumba explained after winning the 2025 Amsterdam Marathon.
He will face Haymanot Alew, whose personal best of 2:0is31 and two-time Amsterdam champion Tsegaye Getachew, at a record of 2:04:18.
Getachew finished second behind Kipchumba in 2025.
Among the Kenyan men in the field are Justus Limo (2:04:55), Patrick Mosin (2:04:59), Kalipus Lomwai (2:05:06), Jonathan Korir (2:05:27), Sila Kiptoo (2:05:28), Victor Kipchirchir (2:05:43), Justus Kangogo (2:05:57), Nicholas Kipkorir (2:06:07), Henry Kichana (2:06:36) and Alfred Barkach (2:08:49). Isaia Lasoi and Amos Kirui are set to make their marathon debuts.
Mosin finished second at the Barcelona Marathon in March 2026, while Lasoi won the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in 58:26 in August.
On the other hand, Kipkorir won silver in the half marathon at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.
Also Read: Rejuvenated Kipchoge Shatters Another Marathon Record, Nearly Breaks the Two-Hour Barrier
Evaline Chirchir Among Leading Women in the Race
In the women’s race, Evaline Chirchir leads Kenya’s challenge with a personal best of 2:20:33.
Evaline finished fourth in Daegu earlier this year, ran 2:21:32 in Berlin, and will face Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta, the defending champion, whose personal best is 2:17:37.
Kenya’s other entrants include Stacy Ndiwa, a 2018 African 10,000m champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist who won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2024, and Rabecca Chepkwemoi, whose personal best is 2:24:52.
Ethiopia Provides Strongest International Challenge
Ethiopia has a strong presence in the men’s race, with Lemi Berhanu (2:04:33), Bute Gemechu (2:04:51), Bazezew Asmare and Yihunilign Adane (both 2:04:59) among the leading entrants. Other Ethiopian runners include Bayelign Teshager (2:05:23), Tsedat Abeje (2:05:47), Yasin Haji (2:05:52), Gerba Beyata, Getachew Kene and Humnaol Habtamu.
Uganda’s Stephen Kissa, with a personal best of 2:04:48, is also in the field.
Eritrea’s entrants include Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Merhawi Kesete and Henok Tesfay, while Israel’s Maru Teferi has a personal best of 2:04:44.
Other international runners include Japan’s Yohei Ikeda; Dutch athletes Khalid Choukoud and Noah Schutte; France’s Mehdi Frère and Bastien Augusto; Belgium’s Lahsene Bouchikhi; Zimbabwe’s Godwin Katakura; Great Britain’s Marc Scott; South Africa’s George Kusche; and Tanzania’s Bernard Geay and Mayko Geay. Mayko is set to make his marathon debut.
Also Read: Ethiopia Beats Kenya as Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola Win Berlin Marathon Titles
Desta leads Ethiopian women’s team.
Defending champion Aynalem Desta leads the women’s field with a personal best of 2:17:37. Ethiopia’s other leading entrants include Meseret Belete (2:18:21), Mestawut Fikir (2:18:48), and Buze Diriba (2:19:34).
Yeshi Chekole (2:20:15) and Tiringo Mulu (2:21:12) are among Ethiopia’s other entrants, alongside Girmawit Gebrzihair (2:24:20), Adanech Anbesa (2:24:07) and Kena Girma. Gete Alemayehu and Warkine Abdeta are set to make their marathon debuts.
Eritrea’s Nazret Weldu (2:20:29) joins the international field alongside Bahrain’s Desi Mokonin (2:20:07) and Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi (2:23:12).
Other entrants include Israel’s Selamawit Teferi, Germany’s Kiara Nahen, Great Britain’s Chelsea Stokes, the United States’ Lindsey Bradley and Dutch runners Mikky Keetels, Bregje Smits, Britt Ummels and Silke van der Meijden.
Pacemakers to support Geofry Kipchumba among the Elite Athletes.
Kenyan pacemakers Benson Murkomen, Jonathan Kamosong and Alex Kibarus will join an international group that includes Mike Foppen, John Wele, and Zakariya Mahamed,
Other pacemakers listed include Andy Fyfe, Ibrahim Chakir, Philip Sesemann, George Grassly, Bernard Cheptoch, Tilahun Amsalu, Charles Sandison, Berihun Hagos, Kevin Quinn, Thomas Higgs, Frank Futselaar, Emiel Berghout, Lucas Nieuweboer, Jacob Allen, Ties van den Hurk, Olivier van der Steeg, Toon van Vuren and Alexandra Bell.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
