The Amsterdam marathon offers young African athletes an excellent springboard to a successful career. Despite the meager budget of the capital Sunday was another course record in the lap.
The newly 23-year-old Getu Feleke Amsterdam took another step higher in stature by 42 km and 195 meters in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 44 seconds to go. The number two debuting Chebet Wilson (25) was not far behind with 02/06/1912. "A great time with the lowest budget in the world'', gave athletes proudly manager Jos Hermens.
Amsterdam doing it for years without a sponsor. Where topmarathons like New York, Berlin. London, Chicago and Rotterdam with their financial attractiveness for years for a good topveld often and stop times, Hermens gambling in Amsterdam on young dogs at the start of their marathon careers. "They can show here, quietly develop.''
'Magic' border
Getaneh Tessema, born in Ethiopia and for years owned by a Dutch passport, the eyes and ears of Hermens in Africa. The former athlete trains in his native country a group of about fifty men and women. Moreover, every year from a surprise. Sunday led to the breaking of the 'magic' limit of 2 hours and 6 minutes.
Feleke, Tessema from the group, ran his fourth marathon in Amsterdam. Last year he was also present in the capital and he finished at 09.02.1932. In the spring of this year, his personal best in Prague to 02/08/2004. Sunday he got there under ideal weather conditions as a whole mouthful. Feleke was the first in a large leading group and accelerated after 35 km. Chebet his last competitor dropped out after 36 kilometers away. Feleke took over a half minutes of last year by Gilbert Yegon for established track record (06/02/1918) away.
Trend
With his winning time Feleke is the eighth largest in the world of 2010. That more and more young runners the marathon world to put their hand is a trend in recent years. ,, Athletes transferring from the track such as world record holder Haile Gebrselassie have three, four or five marathons need to adapt. Boys Feleke immediately opt for the marathon. The competition on the track is very large and the marathon is now financially very interesting'', explained the changes from Sunday Hermens.
Athletes manager honestly say that it did Sunday early start time and an adjustment in the course Feleke also helped to a great time. The City of Amsterdam allowed the runners with a tough climb near the tunnel Wibautstraat could escape. "That saves perhaps a half minutes. But with a larger budget in Amsterdam time in 2 hours and 4 minutes possible. Then you get a better mix of young and experienced. Then even a possible world record. But with the current budget is the dropping of top times difficult to sustain.''
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