Berhanu wins Amsterdam as Diriba smashes the course record
An Ethiopian double in the Dutch capital, and the fastest marathon ever run in China for Tamirat Tola.
By SitesNG Sports Desk · · 2 min read
Ethiopia ruled the roads of Amsterdam on Sunday 18 October 2026. Lemi Berhanu won the men's race in 2:03:33, a personal best by exactly a minute, and Buze Diriba won the women's race in a course record of 2:16:12.
Berhanu, the 2016 Boston Marathon champion, broke away near Vondelpark and ran into the Olympic Stadium alone. Kenya's Nicholas Kipkorir was second in 2:03:39 in only his second marathon. Eleven men broke 2:06.
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Diriba took 40 seconds off the record Yalemzerf Yehualaw set in 2024 and led an Ethiopian sweep, ahead of Aynalem Desta (2:17:06) and Meseret Belete (2:18:02).
Records in Beijing and Delhi
On the same day Olympic champion Tamirat Tola won the Beijing Marathon in 2:03:10, the fastest marathon ever run in China. Kenya's Charles Matata broke the Delhi Half Marathon record with 58:52, and Leonard Langat retained his Toronto title in 2:06:51, with Kenya's Leah Jeruto winning the women's race in 2:21:19.
| Race | Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam (men) | Lemi Berhanu (ETH) | 2:03:33 |
| Amsterdam (women) | Buze Diriba (ETH) | 2:16:12 (course record) |
| Beijing (men) | Tamirat Tola (ETH) | 2:03:10 |
| Toronto (men) | Leonard Langat (KEN) | 2:06:51 |
| Toronto (women) | Leah Jeruto (KEN) | 2:21:19 |
| Delhi Half (men) | Charles Matata (KEN) | 58:52 (course record) |
Nigeria's own distance runners are on our athletics pages.
Reporting by the SitesNG Sports Desk, based on reports from Watch Athletics, Karlobag, Global Times, CP24, Daily Pioneer. Published 18 October 2026 in the African Sports News weekly edition of 23 October 2026.
