Uganda’s long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei clocked a new personal best of 2:04:52 to finish fifth at the 2025 TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday. In only his third marathon, Cheptegei shaved more than a minute off his previous best, showcasing his growing prowess on the roads after a stellar track career.
The race, a World Athletics Platinum Label event, was won by Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba in a course-record 2:03:30. Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew (2:04:18) and Getaneh Molla (2:04:19) took second and third, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay finished fourth in 2:04:36. Running with the NN Running Team, Cheptegei stayed with the lead pack through the halfway point (1:02:14), gradually falling behind after 30km but closing strongly to secure his personal best.
Cheptegei also shared a symbolic moment with Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie at Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, highlighting a meeting of two generations of long-distance greats. Reflecting on the race, Cheptegei said each marathon teaches him about endurance, limits, and belief, expressing pride in representing Uganda internationally.
His performance elevates him into the top 10 active marathoners globally, cementing his status as Uganda’s “King of Long Distance” and signaling more record-breaking runs ahead.
