by Justin Lagat
Leul Gebresilase battles Abdi Nageeye at the 2022 NN Rotterdam Marathon, April 10, 2022, photo courtesy of NN Running team
The NN Running team went 1 and 2 in the 2022 NN Rotterdam marathon today. Justin Lagat wrote this piece on the amazing Rotterdam marathon, which happened today, April 10, 2022. To me, it was pretty amazing that NN Running team went 1,2 on both men’s and women’s elite races.
Kenya’s Reuben Kipyego who had been doing much of the pacing duties in the last stages of the race had glanced back after being dropped at the 40km point and made sure that he maintained his third position which he managed to secure in 2:05:10.
The last 400m was such a thrilling finish to watch as Nageeye and Gebresilase ran neck to neck in determined efforts to break away from each other and go for the win. At some point, Gebresilase had kicked a little bit harder until he appeared to be slightly ahead. But Nageeye would react and they would be shoulder to shoulder again. It was a long hard sprint to the finish line that any runner hopes to avoid before approaching the finish line. None of them was willing to let go of the imminent victory.
Abdi Nageeye takes NN Rotterdam 2022, over Leul Gebresilase, Abdi set Belgian NR of 2:04.55 with his win! photo by NN Running team
Despite the fact that the two runners belonged to the same NN Running Team and wore the same uniform, the competition between them was intense.
The women’s race saw a young and relatively new runner continue to build her name in the marathon distance.
Haven Hailu takes 2022 NN Rotterdam Marathon on April 10, 2022, with a time of 2:21.59 (unofficial), photo by NN Running team
At only 24 years of age, Ethiopia’s Haven Hailu broke away from her competitors in the second half of the women’s race to do a solo run at the front before breaking the tape in 2:21:59 (unofficial). This was her first big city marathon victory.
Nienke Brinkman took 2nd in 2:22:49, NR at 2022 NN Rotterdam Marathon, April 10, 2022, photo by NN Running team
Behind her, Nienke Brinkman finished second in a new national record of 2:22:49 (unofficial) after creating a big gap ahead of Zhanna Mamazhanova of Kazakhstan. The latter also came in to set a new national record for Kazakhstan in 2:26:49 (unofficial).
