Kipchumba, Lasoi headline Kenyan charge at Amsterdam Marathon

Defending champion Geoffrey Kipchumba will lead the Kenyan charge at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18, as he targets a successful title defence and a new course record.

Kipchumba returns to Amsterdam after setting the course record of 2:03:30 last year before finishing second at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this season in 2:03:37.

The Kenyan will face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew, the 2022 and 2024 champion, who finished second last year in a personal best of 2:04:18. Haymanot Alew, whose personal best stands at 2:03:31, is also among the leading contenders.

Kenyan half-marathon specialist Isaia Lasoi will make his marathon debut after clocking 58:10 over the half-marathon distance.

Other Kenyans in the elite field include Patrick Mosin, Nicholas Kipkorir, Justus Limo, Justus Kangogo and Amos Kirui.

In the women’s race, defending champion Aynalem Desta of Ethiopia headlines the elite field as she seeks to retain her title after winning last year’s edition in a personal best of 2:17:37.

Kenya’s challenge will be led by Evaline Chirchir and Stacy Ndiwa, who will aim to challenge the strong Ethiopian contingent over the 42-kilometre distance.

Chirchir enters the race with a personal best of 2:20:33, while Ndiwa has a best of 2:23:42. Chirchir also comes into the contest after clocking 2:20:51 in Daegu, South Korea, earlier this year.

The Kenyan duo will face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Meseret Belete, the 2023 Amsterdam Marathon champion, who has a personal best of 2:18:21, as well as Mestawut Fikir, who finished second at the 2024 Berlin Marathon in 2:18:48.