Joshua Belet Leads Kenya To Third 1-2-3 Podium Finish In Two Weeks

The race, which saw several elite athletes contend with the cold streets, saw Belet lead Kenya to its second clean sweep in two weeks.

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Oct 15, 2023 - 11:21
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Joshua Belet Leads Kenya To Third 1-2-3 Podium Finish In Two Weeks
Kenyan Marathoner Joshua Belet crossing the finish line at the Amsterdam Marathon. /ADIDAS RUNNING

25-year-old Joshua Belet led Kenya to her third clean sweep this month during the 47th edition of the Amsterdam Marathon.

Belet won after clocking a time of 2:04:18 on Sunday, October 15, which is however short of the record held by Ethiopian Tamirat Tola who set a time of 2.03.39 set in 2021.

The race, which saw several elite athletes contend with the cold streets, saw Belet lead Kenya to its third clean sweep in two weeks.

Kenya's Joshua Belet in action at the Amsterdam Marathon on October 15, 2023. /TRACK FIELD KE.X

Kenyans Cyprian Kotut came second, finishing 16 seconds behind Belet, recording a time of 2:04:34 while Bethwell Chumba came in third after clocking 2.04.37.

Belet burst the race open at the 30-kilometre mark by accelerating at a pace that proved tough for other athletes to keep up with.

All eyes were on Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese and Kenya's Bernard Koech as stiff competition was expected between the two.

However, Legese finished fourth recording a time of 2:04:44. Meanwhile, Koech was unable to complete the race, limping out halfway, in a possible injury.

This is Belet's first gold medal in the marathon races having bagged silver in the Haspa Hamburg Marathon in Germany on April 23, 2023, finishing at a time of 2:04:33.

Meseret Belete of Ethiopia clinched the women's marathon after clocking a time of 02:18:21. The TCS Amsterdam Marathon 2023 in Amsterdam Netherlands recorded 47,000 runners participating.

On Sunday, October 1, Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won the women's half marathon, leading the country to sweep the top three positions at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

Jepchirchir bagged her third world half-marathon title, clocking a time of 67:25 (1:07:25). Her fellow countrywoman, Margaret Chelimo won silver in 67:26 (1:07:26), while Catherine Reline Amanang'ole bagged bronze in 67:34 (1:07:34).

The Kenyan 1-2-3 feat was also replicated in the men's half-marathon with long-distance running specialist Sebastian Sawe winning the race at a time of 59:10.

Daniel Ebenyo settled for silver in 59:14 while Samuel Mailu won bronze in 59:19.

Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir crosses the finish line to win the women's half-marathon during the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on October 1, 2023. /WORLD ATHLETICS

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