2019 Rotterdam Diary: Marius Kipserem, 2:04:11 PB, Kaan Kigen Ozbilen, 2:05.26 EL

ROTTERDAM (NED, Apr 7): Kenya’s Marius Kipserem smashed the course record in the Rotterdam Marathon with a 2:04:11 PB (62:17/61:54) ahead of Turkey’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen who moved to second on the European all-time list behind Mo Farah with a 2:05:26 NR, also European lead 2019. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Saina was third in 2:05:42 while Abdi Nageeye smashed the Dutch record with 2:06:18 to finish fourth and also move to fourth on the European all-time list. European champion Koen Naert just missed the Belgian record but was seventh in a big lifetime best of 2:07:39 courtesy of a negative split (64:03/63:36). Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere won the women’s race in 2:22:55 ahead of Kenya’s Stella Barsosio (2:23:37) and Aliphine Tuliamuk from the United States in third (2:26:48).