Egmond aan Zee, The NetherlandsThe heavy storm of the previous day, which had led to the cancellation of a mountain bike race on part of the same course, had calmed down a little on Sunday 9 January in time for the 33rd edition of the Egmond Half Marathon, the biggest such event in The Netherlands.
Robert Cheboror, the 24-year-old Kenyan who won last year’s Amsterdam Marathon in a course record of 2:06:23, and was runner-up in the Boston Marathon as well, was the master of the field. It was the first time the tall Kenyan (1.83 m) had run on a course like this one in Egmond aan Zee.
The event is unique in the fact that after three kilometres, passing through the village of Egmond aan Zee, the runners go down through the dunes for a stretch of 7km along the beach, and then a further 11km back on a road surface along the dunes to the finish on the boulevard of Egmond aan Zee.
“It was quite an experience for me,” the smiling winner said afterwards. “It was heavy going especially in the headwind along the sea.”
Dutchman Greg van Hest had a very quick start and he entered the beach section some 150 metres ahead of a following group of twelve runners. But the strong headwind along the sea was too much for the Dutchman who was caught just after 5 kms (15:25).
During the rest of the 5km section on the beach a group of thirteen stayed together with Cheboror mostly pressing the pace. After 10km, as the race joined the road in the dunes (32:54), only last year’s winner William Kipsang was dropped from this lead pack. However, he came strongly back in the dunes finishing an eventual fifth.
In the dunes with the wind pushing the runners from behind the pace increased and the group broke up, and Cheboror and his compatriot Jason Mbote found themselves leading the dance. Although Mbote tried several times to break away, Cheboror, who will run the Boston marathon again in April, out-sprinted his compatriot in the final metres.
WOMEN - Kibet brings Dutch flavour to the podium
The women started 8:46 minutes ahead of the men, and winner Hilda Kibet was the last one to be overtaken by the leading men. As Kibet is the girlfriend of Dutchman Hugo van der Broek (6th) a slight Dutch edge came with the victory of this Kenyan woman, who has now finished studying physiotherapy in The Netherlands and is focusing on her running career.
Kibet was from the very beginning of the race the leading woman. She finished in 1:13:18, twenty second ahead of Hellen Kimutai, who is back after maternity leave (she gave birth to a twin ten months ago). Kimitai is preparing for the coming Los Angeles Marathon.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
Men
1. Robert Cheboror (Ken) 1:03:35
2. Jason Mbote (Ken) 1:03:36
3. Wilson Kigen (Ken) 1:04:08
4. Luke Kibet (Ken) 1:04:12
5. William Kipsang (Ken) 1:04:41
6. Hugo van der Broek (Ned) 1:04.55
7. Latta Jiru Wago (Eth) 1:05:33
8. Sander Schutgens (Ned) 1:05:35
9. Koen Raymaekers (Ned) 1:05:53
10. Michel Butter (Ned) 1:05:56 (junior, 19 y)
11. Greg van Hest (Ned) 1:06:08
12. Eric van der Linden (Ned) 1:06:35
13. Joep Tigchelaar (Ned) 1:07.26
14. Rens Dekkers (Ned) 1:07:42
15. Wim Borms (Bel) 1:07:43
16. Christiaan de Lie (Ned) 1:07:43 (correct)
17. Bob Winter (Ned) 1:07:55
18. Armand van der Smissen (Ned) 1:08:09
19. Jan Willem Schaar (Ned) 1:08:10
20.Dick van de Broek (Ned) 1:08:32
Women
(they started 8 min 46 sec ahead of the men)
1. Hilda Kibet (Ken) 1:13:18
2. Hellen Kimutai (Ken) 1:13:38
3. Carolyn Kiptoo (Ken) 1:14:19
4. Tegla Loroupe (Ken) 1:14:35
5. Selma Borst (Ned) 1:15:17
6. Edyta Lewandowska (Pol) 1:15:44
7. Kristijna Loonen (Ned) 1:16:05
8. Mounia Aboulahcen (Bel) 1:17:05
9. Anne van Schuppen (Ned) 1:17:18 (40+)
10. Jana Klimasova (Cze) 1:18:59
11. Barbara Zutt (Ned) 1:20:11
12. Nadja Wijenberg (Ned) 1:20:34 (40+)
