Buze Diriba Breaks Amsterdam Marathon Course Record with Powerful Finish
Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba delivered a superb late surge to win the women’s race at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18, setting a course record of 2:16:12. Defending champion Aynalem Desta finished second in 2:17:06, while former winner Meseret Belete completed an Ethiopian podium sweep in 2:18:06.
Diriba improved Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s 2024 course record of 2:16:52 by 40 seconds. Her performance also cut 3:22 from her previous personal best of 2:19:34, marking a major breakthrough despite the rain, cold and wind in the Dutch capital.
The race developed patiently, with the leading Ethiopian contenders staying together rather than forcing an early separation. Four Ethiopian women formed the main contest at the front, before Diriba and Desta eventually emerged as the strongest challengers for victory.
For much of the morning, the course record appeared a difficult target. Diriba reached halfway in 1:08:34, a pace pointing towards a finish outside Yehualaw’s mark. At 25 km, the leaders were reportedly 48 seconds behind the corresponding course-record schedule, leaving considerable ground to recover over the remaining kilometres.
The closing stages transformed the race. As the leading group thinned, Desta remained in contention to defend her title, but Diriba had more speed available when it mattered. The defending champion could not match her compatriot’s late acceleration, allowing Diriba to establish a clear advantage on the approach to the Olympic Stadium.
Diriba’s strong finish turned the battle for victory into a successful assault on the course record. Using her reported halfway split and finishing time, she covered the second half in approximately 1:07:38—56 seconds faster than the first. She ultimately crossed the line 54 seconds ahead of Desta, who improved her own winning time from last year by 31 seconds.
Belete, Amsterdam’s 2023 champion, secured third place, finishing 1:54 behind Diriba. Ethiopia also claimed fourth and fifth through Tiringo Mulu in 2:20:36 and Mestawut Fikir in 2:21:32, completing a dominant showing at the front of the women’s field.
