Rotterdam Marathon 2025: Kenyan duo wins with Kamworor and Cherono taking the victories
This Sunday, April 13, marked the 44th edition of the NN Marathon of Rotterdam. The Dutch city provided a spectacular event where 17,000 runners took part in the fastest marathon course in the Netherlands. Among them was an elite field featuring Geoffrey Kamworor and Jackline Cherono. The two Kenyan athletes won the race remarkably in 2:04:33 and 2:21:14, respectively.
| Geoffrey Kamworor, the resurgence of a champion
He had been waiting for this since 2019. This Sunday, Geoffrey Kamworor staged a masterful comeback, full of control and expertise. At 32, the multiple World Champion in Half Marathon and Cross-Country showed he is back to his best form.
Right from the start, a relentless pace was set: 29:31 at 10 km, a pace of 2:57/km. A true metronome. In fair but not ideal conditions — overcast skies, 15°C, headwind at times — the Kenyan runner from the NN Running Team, teammate of Eliud Kipchoge, dominated the race from start to finish. After passing the half-marathon mark at 1:02:21, the speed didn’t wane and there were still four competitors in the mix at 30 km.
It was at the 35 km mark that Geoffrey Kamworor decided to hit the accelerator. A decisive move full of determination. Pursuers Chimdessa Debele and Kennedy Kimutai dropped off, and only Ethiopian Chala Regasa attempted to keep up. Two kilometers later, he too could no longer maintain the fierce pace of the Kenyan.
Geoffrey Kamworor soared ahead. Alone, focused, powerful, he swept through the streets of central Rotterdam in an electrifying atmosphere. He crossed the finish line, breaking the tape in 2:04:33, with a precise negative split (1:02:21 / 1:02:12), narrowly missing his personal best of 2:04:23 (London 2023). A demonstration. A signal of resurgence for someone who endured a challenging 2024 marred by injury and marked by an absence from the Paris Olympics.
Chala Regasa secured second place in 2:05:06, followed by Chimdessa Debele (2:05:26) and Kennedy Kimutai (2:05:27).
| Jackline Cherono, victorious after tremendous effort
The women’s race also offered a thrilling scenario. From a dense field, six women broke away in the early kilometers, led by Kenyan Jackline Cherono. From the 10th kilometer (32:50), the tone was set: no holding back, it was fast-paced.
Settled comfortably in a group of amateur male runners, the Kenyan runner maintained her focus, with a fluid stride and determined gaze. By the half-marathon (1:09:14), she had already widened the gap. Behind her, a pack formed, but it was in vain: the Kenyan was in prime form that day.
Up to the 35 km mark, she was on pace for the course record. Then she started to slow slightly, began to struggle, but she didn’t give in. In pain, she gritted her teeth and held onto her lead. Accompanied by her pacer, she crossed the line in 2:21:14, achieving a new personal record. Her second marathon victory, following the Peace Marathon in Kosice in 2023, in a very festive atmosphere.
The Ethiopian athletes Aminet Ahmed (2:22:14) and Azmera Gebru (2:22:15) completed the podium after a close battle for second place.
| Once again, the Marathon of Rotterdam lived up to its promises. A fast course, high-level times, an electrifying atmosphere, and an elite field to match. With an imperious Geoffrey Kamworor and a heroic Jackline Cherono, Kenya dominated this 2025 edition. Now, Rotterdam looks to the future: organizers aim to welcome 30,000 runners by 2026. At this pace, the Dutch city is well on its way to becoming a leading reference in the marathon world.
