Sports · Running & Athletics · 2 hrs ago
Kipchumba and Desta return to defend Amsterdam Marathon titles
Kenya’s Geofry Kipchumba and Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta will defend their titles at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon in the Dutch capital.
The race is scheduled for Sunday, October 18.
Kipchumba won last year in 2:03:30, setting a course record, while Desta’s winning time of 2:17:37 was the third-fastest in the race’s history.
Kipchumba faces a strong Ethiopian challenge, including Haymanot Alew, whose personal best is one second slower, and Tsegaye Getachew, a two-time Amsterdam winner.
Desta will meet three Ethiopian women who have run under 2:20, including former Amsterdam champion Meseret Belete.
Kenya’s women’s team includes Evaline Chirchir, who ran 2:21:32 in Berlin last month.
The crowded fields leave both defending champions facing tough title defences as they try to win again.
Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Aynalem Desta are set to defend their TCS Amsterdam Marathon titles on October 18.
Kipchumba, from Kenya, won the 2025 men’s race in 2:03:30, setting a course record.
Desta, from Ethiopia, won the 2025 women’s race in 2:17:37, the third-fastest time recorded in Amsterdam.
Kipchumba faces a deep men’s field that includes Ethiopian rivals Tsegaye Getachew and Haymanot Alew.
Desta’s challengers include Ethiopian runners Meseret Belete, Mestawut Fikir and Buze Diriba.
- Who
- Kenyan runner Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Ethiopian runner Aynalem Desta.
- What
- They will defend their titles at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon.
- When
- October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Why
- They are returning to try to retain the titles they won in 2025.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew won the Amsterdam Marathon.
Ethiopia’s Meseret Belete won the Amsterdam Marathon in 2:18:21.
Kipchumba won the men’s race in 2:03:30, and Desta won the women’s race in 2:17:37.
Kipchumba finished second in the Tokyo Marathon in 2:03:37.
Kipchumba and Desta are due to return to Amsterdam to defend their titles.
- Men’s defending champion
- Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba
- Women’s defending champion
- Aynalem Desta
- Kipchumba’s 2025 winning time
- 2:03:30
- Desta’s 2025 winning time
- 2:17:37
- Race date
- October 18, 2026
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What people are saying
I am very happy. I felt strong and thought, let me push. I had hoped for 2:04, but this is even faster
The entry list also stars 2015 world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Barcelona Marathon runner-up Patrick Mosin and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi, who makes his marathon debut after winning the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in 58:26 in August