Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Abera to offer stiff challenge: Kenyan charges chase top prize in Amsterdam meeting

Edwin Kiptoo of Kenia wins the Dam tot Damloop, a ten-mile (16,1 kilometer) running race from Amsterdam to Zaandam, on September 20, 2015 . AFP PHOTO

Kiptoo, Kipruto battle rivals Ethiopia in streets of Netherlands tomorrow.

Edwin Kiptoo and Amos Kipruto are among the star attractions at the 41st TCS Amsterdam Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Race, and tomorrow.

Kiptoo played an important role in setting the pace in Amsterdam last year and will be familiar with the course.

Last year, he stayed with a big group that went through 10km (29.48), 15km (29:48) and 21km (63:18) together, battling against a strong wind as they ran along Amstel River.

Halfway, shortly after the turning point by the famous Ouderkerk, was reached in 1:03:41 and a good mark for the organisers who wanted a course record. And the organisers are hopeful that the 2:05.21 course record set by Daniel Wanjiru last year would fall.

With a half-marathon personal best of 59:26 and having finished fourth at the Dam tot Damloop, Kiptoo has reason to feel optimistic ahead of his marathon debut.

But after getting a feel for the Amsterdam Marathon last year, Amos Kipruto’s marathon career is taking off and this year he is competing for a place on the podium. He won this year’s Seoul Marathon in 2:05:54, improving his personal best by more than two minutes.

The two Kenyans, however, need to be at their best to stop Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Abera and Iten-based Zane Robertson, who is making his marathon debut.

The 27-year-old Robertson holds national records at 10,000m (27:33.67) and the half marathon (59:47).

With a personal best of 2:04:24 set when winning last year’s Dubai Marathon, Abera is the fastest of the four. The 25-year-old Ethiopian sits at 13th on the world all-time list and, having also won the Hamburg Marathon last year, he is keen to add the Amsterdam Marathon to his string of victories.

Dutch Olympian Abdi Nageeye Dutchman, who finished ninth in 2:09:34 at the Rotterdam Marathon last April, the fastest time by a Dutch athlete on this course, will be in action.

Abdi, who trains under Global Sports Communications in Nijmegen city, is out to beat Kamiel Maase’s national record of 2:08:21.

Amsterdam Marathon, the Dutch’s 42km premier race, has no doubt elicited fairy tales among Kenyan athletes — the rags to riches storylines.

Three-time Amsterdam Marathon winner Wilson Chebet, two-time winner Bernard Kipyego and Sammy Kitwara, a runner-up last year, have identical athletics scripts.