EN
The international field of entrants is so strong and the athletes are so well matched that the 33rd ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam promises to be both a super-fast and exciting race. It is not inconceivable that the best marathon in the Netherlands will be decided on Sunday 14 April with a photo finish on Coolsingel. ©ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam
ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam promises to be a fast and exciting race, possibly with a photo finish on Sunday 14 April 2013
The international field of entrants is so strong and the athletes are so well matched that the 33rd ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam promises to be both a super-fast and exciting race. It is not inconceivable that the best marathon in the Netherlands will be decided on Sunday 14 April with a photo finish on Coolsingel.
That was almost the case in 2009, when the Kenyans Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai crossed the line in virtually the same time, following an exhilarating finish. The course record of 2.04.27, which is the time they set, is what the top athletes will be chasing.
Heart-stopping finishes are nothing new for Rotterdam. The three smallest differences between the winner and the runner-up are:
| 2009 | 2.04.26,3 | Duncan Kibet (Ken) | – 2.04.26,9 | James Kwambai (Ken) | 0,6 sec |
| 1986 | 2.09.08 | Abede Mekonnen (Eth) | – 2.09.09 | Belayneh Densamo (Eth) | 1 sec |
| 1983 | 2.08.37 | Rob de Castella (Aus) | – 2.08.39 | Carlos Lopers (Por) | 2 sec |
MARIO KADIKS
Marathon director Mario Kadiks: "This year, there isn't one clear favourite. We chose to have a strong, broad, competitive field of elite athletes, who'll be able to provide some surprises if they work together. The aim is to improve the course record. If weather conditions are ideal, we don't even rule out a time of 2.03.''
TOP 10
The top10 entrants among the men, with country and personal record, are as follows:
| 1. | Berhanu Shiferaw | Ethiopia | 2.04.48 |
| 2. | Getu Feleke | Ethiopia | 2.04.50 |
| 3. | Bazu Worku | Kenya | 2.05.25 |
| 4. | Wilson Chebet | Kenya | 2.05.27 |
| 5. | Tilahun Regassa | Ethiopia | 2.05.27 |
| 6. | Sammy Kitwara | Kenya | 2.05.54 |
| 7. | Geoffrey Kipsang | Kenya | 2.06.12 |
| 8. | Assefa Bentayehu | Ethiopia | 2.06.22 |
| 9. | Augustine Rono | Kenya | 2.07.23 |
| 10. | John Nzau Mwangangi | Kenya | debut |
The other international entrants are: Atsedu Tsegay (Eth, debut), Joel Kimurer (Ken, 2.08.18), Gidena Gebremedhin (Eth, 2.08.28), Brett Gotcher (US, 2.10.36), Reid Coolsaet (Can, 2.10.55), Birhanu Melese (2.12.38), Alebachew Debas Wale (Eth, 2.13.37), Mike Morgan (US, 2.14.22), Willem Van Schuerbeeck (Bel, 2.16.14), Stijn Fincioen (Bel, 2.17.57), Benjamin Barbier (Bel, debut), Dieter Vanstreels (Bel, debut) and Javier Guerra (Spa, debut).
TOP DUTCH ENTRANTS
Almost all the top Dutch runners have also chosen to take part in the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam:
| Michel Butter | 2.09.58 |
| Koen Raymaekers | 2.10.35 |
| Patrick Stitzinger | 2.15.01 |
| Ronald Schroer | 2.16.19 |
| Olfert Molenhuis | 2.16.20 |
| Rens Dekkers | 2.17.10 |
| Christiaan de Lie | 2.24.46 |
WOMEN
Hilda Kibet will head the women's field. The Dutchwoman will face competition from the Ethiopian runners Misiker Mekonnin and Harun Makda, among others.
The female entrants are:
| Hilda Kibet | Netherlands | 2.24.27 |
| Misiker Mekonnin | Ethiopia | 2.25.21 |
| Harun Makda | Ethiopia | 2.25.46 |
| Alessandra Aguilar | Spain | 2.27.00 |
| Abebech Afework | Ethiopia | 2.27.08 |
| Mekuria Aberume | Ethiopia | 2.27.20 |
| Miranda Boonstra | Netherlands | 2.27.32 |
| Jemima Jelagat | Kenya | 2.28.32 |
| Adriana Nelson | US | 2.28.52 |
| Inge de Jong | Netherlands | 2.38.00 |
| Marta Esteban | Spain | 2.38.05 |
| Ilse Pol | Netherlands | debut |
| Stefanie Bouma | Netherlands | debut |
Large group of impressive top runners aiming for a new record during the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam
The international elite field in the 33rd ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam includes at least six and probably even more athletes capable of breaking the course record. The current record of 2.04.27 was set in 2009 by Kenyan runners Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai, who, after a thrilling finish, crossed the finish line with the same time.
On paper, Berhanu Shiferaw, with a personal record of 2.04.48, leads the group aiming for a record on Sunday 14 April. The 19-year-old Ethiopian is followed by Getu Feleke (Eth, 2.04.50), Bazu Worku (Ken, 2.05.25), Wilson Chebet (Ken, 2.05.27), Tilahun Regassa (Eth, 2.05.27) and Sammy Kitwara (Ken, 2.05.54).
These six runners will also have to keep in mind that Geoffrey Kipsang (Ken, 2.06.12), Assefa Bentayehu (Eth, 2.06.22) and Augustine Rono (Ken, 2.07.23) have joined the race, not to mention the huge potential of promising newcomers John Nzau Mwangangi (Ken, 22) and Atsedu Tsegay (Eth, 21), who had the fastest half marathon time last year (58.47).
MISSION
Marathon Director Mario Kadiks comments: "Our mission this year is a new course record; it may even be under 2.04. This extremely strong, broad field of runners will really reinforce our status as a top international marathon. We have a reputation to keep up, with three world records and several other leading times. We want to live up to that."
WORLD RANKING
The prestigious list of the world's fastest marathons is compiled based on the average of the ten fastest times. Rotterdam, at 2.04.54, holds second place on this list. The leader is Berlin (2.04.37). In 2011, Kenyan Patrick Makau ran the current official world record of 2.03.38 in the German capital.
EXCITING
After previously announcing the participation of such athletes as Feleke (second after an exciting finish last year on Coolsingel), Chebet (2011 winner) and Kitwara, the completed list is now led by Berhanu Shiferaw. The great African talent was a surprise in January when he ran in Dubai with a time of 2.04.48. Only his compatriot Lelisa Desisa managed to beat him, by three seconds.
STEEPLECHASE
Shiferaw has also had impressive results in the steeplechase in the past; in 2009 he was fifth in the 2000 metre steeplechase at the World Youth Athletics Championships.
HOUSTON
Of the other athletes newly added to the list, Worku won in Houston in January; he finished that race in 2.10.17. He ran his best time in Berlin in 2010 (2.05.25, placing third). Regassa attracted attention last year in Chicago when he finished third with a time of 2.05.27.
HALF MARATHON
Kipsang has the world's fastest half marathon time this season at 58.54 in Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates). Bentayehu debuted in the Amsterdam Marathon last October with third place (2.06.22). Rono improved his marathon time to 2.07.23 a year ago in Hamburg (third).
DUTCH ELITE
The Dutch elite have also signed up for the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam. Michel Butter, who improved his personal half-marathon record to 1.02.25 last Sunday during the ABN AMRO CPC Run The Hague, wants to be the fastest Dutch athlete ever to cross the finish on Coolsingel. Koen Raymaekers, Ronald Schroer, Patrick Stitzinger, Rens Dekkers, Olfert Molenhuis, Christian de Lie and, in the women's category, Hilda Kibet and Miranda Boonstra, are other athletes of national fame registered to run.
REGISTRATION
Apart from the top-class complement of runners, interest in the coming ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam has been so overwhelming that the maximum number of participants was reached five weeks before the event. Registration is now closed. On 14 April at 10:30, 10,000 individual runners and 2500 business runners will stand at the Coolsingel starting line waiting for the shot to commence the finest marathon in the Netherlands.
27,500 RUNNERS
The 10 km run is also 'sold out'. 10,000 runners will participate; registration closed on Monday. On the Saturday before the marathon, 5000 runners will take part in the AD 5km run and the Kids Runs (1 and 2.5 km). In total, 27,500 runners will race in the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam.
Source: Marathon Rotterdam B.V.
