NN MARATHON ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – 12 APRIL 2015 – Kuma and Kato

Abera Kuma pulled away from his rivals in the last 7km of the 35th edition writes Cors van den Brink. He nevertheless expressed disappointment, complaining about the wind having prevented him posting a new personal best (2:05:56, 3rd in Berlin last year).

After passing 10km in 29:03 and continuing to rocket around the Dutch port city the pacemakers passed halfway in 1:02:04 with 10 runners on their tail. Just before crossing the Erasmus Bridge again at 25km two pacemakers finished. The final pacer dropped out at 30km leaving two Kenyans and three Ethiopians: Bernard Koech, Kuma, Mark Kiptoo, Tebalu Zuwade and Abayleh Ayele.

Koech led forcing the pace to the extent that Zuwade and Ayele dropped back, even though the tempo was slowing. After going around the Kralingse Plas, the lake and park where the Rotterdam Marathon has its roots, Kuma picked up enough to drop Koech and Kiptoo.

In the women's race, a leading group of four quickly fronted the race: Japan's Asami Kato, Ethiopia's Marta Tigabea, Peru's Gladys Tejeda and Kenya's Bornes Kitur. Kato and Tigabea led through halfway in 1:12:03 while Tejeda and Kitur were starting to slip back.

Kato forged ahead at around 27km, dropping Tigabea, and eventually finishing almost two minutes clear of her nearest challenger. Tejeda ran a tactically astute race to come through well for second place in a personal best. "It was a good race but I'm a bit disappointed with this time," said Kato, despite improving by more than two minutes.

15,000 runners started the race at a runner-friendly temperature of 12°C but a strong south-westerly breeze reached 4m/s.

MEN:
1  Abera KUMA                     ETH  2:06:46
2  Mark KIPTOO                      KEN  2:07:20
3  Bernard KOECH                   KEN  2:08:02

WOMEN:
1  Asami KATO                    JPN  2:26:30
2  Gladys TEJEDA                   PER  2:28:12

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