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AMSTERDAM. — Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru won the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon in a new course record of 2:05:21 as the country swept the top three places yesterday. Wanjiru (24) finished ahead of compatriots Sammy Kitwara (2.05.45) and Marius Kimutai (2.05.47) as Kenya bagged the top eight places in the race. “I have been training well and the weather today was excellent making it possible for me to run my best. I hope the win will inspire me to many more victories in my career,” Wanjiru said.

Last year’s champion Bernard Kipyego finished in eighth place. Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu won the women’s race in 2.23.20 as Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo finished fourth in a time of 2:25:57.

Running in only his third marathon Wanjiru timed his breakaway from two-time Chicago runner-up and one of the pre-race favourites, Kitwara and Geoffrey Kirui at the 38km mark to motor away to his first major victory as he erased three-time winner, Wilson Chebet’s 2:05:36 previous route best set in 2013.

The pre-race talk in the men’s showdown was all about Kitwara who was seeking his maiden big victory in the ultimate distance event held on for second in an impressive 2:05:43 as Marius Kimutai who came charging through the second half of the race landed in the final podium place in 2:05:47 to round the Kenyan sweep.

Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu broke off and powered unchallenged to the women’s title in 2:23:20 to quash the comeback dream London 2012 Olympics silver medallist, Priscah Jeptoo who finished fourth had on her debut in the Dutch city.

Compatriot Abebech Afework came home in 2:24:27 for the Ethiopian 1-2 as Eunice Chumba prevented the sweep when she clocked 2:25:00 for bronze.

Having asked for a 2:04 pace, Kitwara, a two-time Chicago runners-up was on the heels of the pacemakers led by Edwin Kiptoo as he sought his first victory in a major marathon having done eight races over the ultimate distance.

The leading group in the men that had among others, “Mr. Amsterdam” and three-time winner and course record holder, Wilson Chebet, titleholder, Bernard Kipyego and Geoffrey Kirui who debut in Rotterdam in April as well as Ethiopia’s Abera Kuma passed 5K in 14:57.

However, the pace significantly dropped and the field was outside the 2:05:36 course record when they went through 15K in 44:47 for a projected 2:06 finish with Kitwara most keen on getting the speed lifted.

The “big three” that had Chebet and Kipyego were still in the running at the front as the leaders went through 20K at 60:03 and half at 63:17 that was outside the time the latter won with last year.

Kitwara started accelerating the pace and was shoulder to shoulder with the remaining rabbit Kiptoo as he whispered in his ears when they arrived at 30K in 1.29.47.

At this point, up to a dozen runners were still in contention but Chebet who won the third of his Amsterdam titles in 2012 started struggling before he hauled himself back into contention back into the leading group.

As they approached eight kilometres to the finish, Kitwara stepped on the gas followed by Kirui (28) and Wanjiru, the dark horse who had bid his time in the middle of the leading pack before separating from the challengers when the leader upped the ante.

At some point as the race got to its business end, Kitwara urged Wanjiru to take up some of the front running but the fourth finisher in Prague (2:08:08) in May chose to trail the leader with Kirui who ran 2:07:23 for third in Rotterdam.

With just over 5K to run, hopes of Kipyego completing a hat-trick of Amsterdam victories dissipated when he started falling off from the chasing pack as Kitwara’s relentless pursuit of a major victory in the ultimate distance continued as Wanjiru moved to run side by side with Kirui a step behind.

With three kilometres to go, the Kenyan podium sweep was on the card as Wanjiru, Kitwara and Kirui continued motoring to a sub 2:06 pace with the speed having picked up dramatically in the second half split. — AFP.