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In the upcoming TCS Amsterdam Marathon scheduled for Sunday, two elite distance runners, Kenya’s Bernard Koech and Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, are poised to ignite the competition and potentially battle to achieve exceptional times.

The marathon, which will both start and finish at the iconic Olympic Stadium, has gathered strong fields of athletes, with Legese and Koech among the nine male participants boasting sub-2:05 marathon times.

Bernard Koech eyeing course record

Koech, a remarkable talent, is eyeing the course record of 2:03:39 as he looks forward to the Amsterdam Marathon.

The 35-year-old athlete has a deep connection to this event, having finished as the runner-up to course record-holder Tamirat Tola in 2021.

Koech’s personal best of 2:04:09, which he achieved in the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon, ranks as the third-fastest time ever recorded at this event.

He replicated this achievement with a victory in the Hamburg Marathon earlier this year and finished fourth in the 2022 Chicago Marathon.

Bernard Koech competitor

BLegese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion, is eager to regain his winning form after facing challenges during his last marathon in London earlier this year.

He recently showcased his fitness with a remarkable half marathon personal best of 58:59 in Barcelona, just before his London race.

Legese’s marathon personal best of 2:02:48, achieved when he secured second place in Berlin in 2019, cements his status as the fourth-fastest marathoner in history.

As the quickest athlete in the field by over a minute, Legese aspires to leave his mark in Amsterdam, with an eye on the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

Joining Koech is his compatriot, Joshua Belet, who made an impressive marathon debut with a time of 2:04:33, securing second place behind Koech in the Hamburg Marathon. Despite a World Athletics Championships appearance in Budapest that ended without finishing, Belet brings his youthful energy to the race.

Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu Hayle, the 2016 Boston Marathon champion, also holds a marathon personal best of 2:04:33, dating back seven years.

The field also includes a group of accomplished athletes with sub-2:05 marathon times, such as Hailemaryam Kiros (2:04:41), Asrar Hiyrden (2:04:43), Cybrian Kotut (2:04:47), Barselius Kipyego (2:04:48), and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57), who finished third in the 2022 Amsterdam Marathon.

Among the domestic entries, Khalid Choukoud leads the charge, with his sights set on achieving an Olympic qualifying time.

“My plan is to run really hard,” emphasizing his desire to represent his country at the Olympics for the second time,” said Choukoud.

Adding to the excitement, Kennedy Kimutai from Kenya, known for his impressive half marathon personal best of 58:28 set in Valencia in 2021, will make his marathon debut, raising expectations for a captivating race.

Amsterdam Marathon entries

Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48
Bernard Koech (KEN) 2:04:09
Joshua Belet (KEN) 2:04:33
Lemi Berhanu Hayle (ETH) 2:04:33
Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:41
Asrar Hiyrden (ETH) 2:04:43
Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:04:47
Barselius Kipyego (KEN) 2:04:48
Bazezew Asmare (ETH) 2:04:57
Adeledelew Mamo (ETH) 2:05:12
Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18
Bethwel Chumba (KEN) 2:05:42
Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:05:57
Samuel Tsegay (SWE) 2:06:53
Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:06:54
Gizealew Ayana (ETH) 2:07:15
Abdelilah El Maimouni (MAR) 2:08:50
Khalid Choukoud (NED) 2:09:34
Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) debut