Amsterdam, Netherlands — Uganda’s long-distance legend Joshua Cheptegei delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 TCS Amsterdam Marathon, clocking a new personal best of 2:04:52 to finish fifth in a highly competitive field on Sunday morning.
In only his third marathon, the two-time Olympic champion and world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m showcased remarkable improvement, trimming more than a minute off his previous best time.
The race, a World Athletics Platinum Label event, was dominated by Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba, who stormed to victory in a course record time of 2:03:30, breaking the previous record set by Tamirat Tola four years ago. Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew and Getaneh Molla finished second and third, clocking 2:04:18 and 2:04:19 respectively, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay came in fourth at 2:04:36.
Cheptegei, running as part of the NN Running Team, stayed with the lead pack for much of the race as the front runners went through 10km in 29:16 and hit the halfway mark in 1:02:14. The pace quickened after the 30km mark (1:28:22), but the Ugandan star began to drift slightly behind as the leaders surged toward the finish inside Amsterdam’s historic Olympic Stadium.
Despite falling just short of the podium, Cheptegei’s performance earned widespread praise from fans and peers. “Personal best by over a minute! Joshua Cheptegei runs a powerful 2:04:50 and takes another step forward at the Amsterdam Marathon,” the NN Running Team posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) also hailed Cheptegei’s display, calling him “commander” and applauding his persistence and consistency at the top level. “Congratulations, Joshua Cheptegei, for finishing 5th at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon. New personal best of 2:04:52 — well done, commander,” the federation posted.
Before the race, anticipation was high as Cheptegei was expected to test his endurance and pacing strategy against some of the world’s elite marathoners. His showing in Amsterdam confirmed his steady adaptation from track dominance to marathon mastery.
After the race, Cheptegei was seen sharing a moment with Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie at the Olympic Stadium — a symbolic meeting between two generations of distance-running icons.
“Legends recognise legends!” the NN Running Team wrote. “When Olympic champions Joshua Cheptegei and Haile Gebrselassie meet at the iconic Olympic Stadium, history feels alive.”
The women’s race was equally fierce, with Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta claiming victory in 2:17:37, the third-fastest time ever recorded in Amsterdam. She was followed by compatriots Bertukan Welde (2:17:56) and Mekides Shimeles (2:19:56), completing an Ethiopian clean sweep of the podium.
The 2025 edition of the Amsterdam Marathon reaffirmed its status as one of the fastest courses in the world, attracting elite athletes and producing a string of personal bests.
For Cheptegei, the race marked another successful step in his marathon evolution. Having conquered the track with world records and Olympic gold, the 28-year-old Ugandan continues to build momentum in the marathon world — with eyes now set on breaking the national record and competing for a major marathon title.
“This is another important step for me,” Cheptegei said in a brief comment after the race. “Every marathon teaches you something new — about your body, your limits, and your belief. I’m grateful for the progress and proud to represent Uganda.”
With his new personal best of 2:04:52, Cheptegei now cements his place among the top 10 active marathoners globally, signalling that the Ugandan “King of Long Distance” is far from done rewriting records — this time, on the roads.
Top 5 Results – Men’s Marathon
- Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba (Kenya) – 2:03:30 (Course Record)
- Tsegaye Getachew (Ethiopia) – 2:04:18
- Getaneh Molla (Ethiopia) – 2:04:19
- Gabriel Geay (Tanzania) – 2:04:36
- Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) – 2:04:52 (Personal Best)
Top 3 Results – Women’s Marathon
- Aynalem Desta (Ethiopia) – 2:17:37
- Bertukan Welde (Ethiopia) – 2:17:56
- Mekides Shimeles (Ethiopia) – 2:19:56
Credit: World Athletics