Almaz Ayana smashes course record at TCS Amsterdam Marathon in fastest-ever women’s debut marathon

2016 Olympic 10,000 metre champion Almaz Ayana, 30, set a new course record in a glorious debut marathon win at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday in 2:17:19. Ayana ran the fastest-ever marathon debut by a woman and her time is the seventh-best on the world all-time list.

Ayana is also the former world record holder in the 10,000m; on Sunday she beat favourite and compatriot Genzebe Dibaba, who ran 2:18.05. Fellow Ethiopian Tsehay Gemechu ran 2:18:59 to round out the podium. All three women were running their debut marathons.

This was Ayana’s return from a three-year running hiatus, and before the race, she simply stated that she was “going to do well.” Dibaba was also confident heading into the race: “I am going for a good time and a good position,” she said to the press.

Ayana and world 1,500m record holder Dibaba ran together for most of the race, with Ayana making her move to take the lead at the 35 km mark. Dibaba and Ayana are both fairly new to road racing; in 2017, Ayana had a victorious half-marathon debut in New Delhi, and has only raced once on the track since, in 2019.  She made her half-marathon comeback earlier this year, finishing fifth in Madrid and third at the Great North Run.

Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew took the overall win in 2:04:49, narrowly beating Kenya’s Titus Kipruto, who ran 2:04:54. Ethiopian Bazezew Asmare rounded out the podium with a time of 2:04.57.

With two kilometres to go, the race lead pack was five men strong. Getachew stormed the last kilometre to break the tape in a new PB. Getachew, 25, was a surprise champion in a deep elite field, running a new PB, with race favourite Cybrian Kotut of Kenya finishing sixth, in 2:05:15.

Top men 

Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) – 2:04:49
Titus Kipruto (KEN) – 2:04:54
Bazezew Asmare (ETH) – 2:04:57
Abraham Kiptoo (KEN) – 2:05:04
Huseydin Mohamed – 2:05:05
Cybrian Kotut (KEN) – 2:05:15
Norbert Kigen (KEN) – 2:05:32
Laban Korir (KEN) – 2:05:41
Adeladlew Mamo (ETH) – 2:05:45
Jasphat Boit (KEN) – 2:06:34

Top women

Almaz Ayana (ETH) – 2:17:20
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) – 2:18:05
Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) – 2:18:59
Nasnet Amanuel (ERI) – 2:22:45
Rose Chelimo (BRN) – 2:23:12
Zinash Gerado (ETH) – 2:24:21
Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) – 2:26:50
Gebaynesh Ayele (ETH) – 2:27:36
Nora Szabo (NED) – 2:30:31
Leonie Balter (NED) – 2:37:41

To see complete results from the 2022 TCS Amsterdam Marathon, head here.