Viola Kibiwott clocked 2:20:57 to finish second in the women’s category of the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday.
Kibiwott led a Kenyan 2-5 finish in the event with Sally Kipyego (2:22:46) rounding off the podium positions and Emily Chebet (2:24:49) as Pascalia Jepkosgei (2:24:560 placing fourth and fifth respectively. Ashete Bekere of Ethiopia carried the day in 2:19:30.
Tokyo Olympic Games marathon silver medallist Abdi Nageeye of Netherlands unleashed a devastating kick in the final one kilometre to win the men’s category in 2:04:45 It was his second win in the race, having bagged the title in 2022.
Ethiopians Amedework Walelegn and Birhanu Legese completed the podium after coming home in second and third respectively.
Walelegn arrived home five seconds later in 2:04:50 with Legese stopping the clock at 2:05:16.
Kenneth Kipkemboi was the highest-placed Kenyan in the men’s race in fourth place in 2:05.43 with Enock Onchari fifth in 2:06:07.
The race started with a minute’s silence in honour of the late Kelvin Kiptum with his wife Asenath Rotich presented with a special trophy courtesy of Zepp Health, the company behind the AmazFit Cheetah Pro watch.
All runners in Rotterdam also proudly donned a black ribbon in memory of Kiptum while his running number (No. 1) had been retired by race organisers in honour of the fallen world marathon record holder.
