Posted: January 10, 2006

Athletics: Kamiel Maase wins 34th Egmond Half Marathon

Dutchman Kamiel Maase has won the Egmond Half Marathon for the second time in his career. The athlete was - five years after his first victory in Egmond - the fastest runner from a leading group of six athletes in a thrilling final. The Kenyan Wilson Kigen (winner in 2000 and 2002) finished on the second place before the Ethiopian Abiyotte Guta.

In a tactical race, over de beach and through the dunes, a sensational final sprint brought the winner on the boulevard of Egmond aan Zee. Not only the struggle between the men had been settled on the last metres, but also the traditional man-woman race (women start 8.46 minutes before men) found it’s climax on this place.

Just one second was the difference between Maase and Susan Chepkemei, who succeeded to finish before the third man Abiyotte Guta in a fiercely sprint. An un-heard-of difference between men and women, which more than ever proves the man/woman race gives extra suspense to the races organized by Le Champion.

Susan Chepkemei won after here earlier victories in 2001 and 2002 for the third time in the women race. Hilda Kibet, the winner of 2005, finished on the second place ample before the German Susanne Ritter. Best Dutchwoman was Selma Borst on the fifth place.

Notable were also the performances of the Dutch talents Guus Janssen and Michel Butter. With an eight and ninth place they beat the more experienced Jeroen van Damme (11th) and Luc Krotwaar (12th). Formerly Olympic Champion Venuste Niyongabo (winner of the 5000m in Atlanta 1996) enjoyed his participation, but was not able to finish in the front (37th place in 1.11.40).

Top 10 men
1) Kamiel Maase (Net) - 1.03.29
2) Wilson Kigen (Ken) - 1.03.30 
3) Abiyotte Guta (Eth) - 1.03.39 
4) Solomon Tsige (Eth) - 1.03.37
5) William Kipsang (Ken) - 1.03.43
6) Jamal Baligha (Mar) - 1.03.50
7) Jason Mbote (Ken) - 1.04.37
8) Guus Janssen (Net) - 1.04.41
9) Michel Butter (Net) - 1.04.48
10) Jussi Utriainen (Fin) - 1.04.50

Top 10 women
1) Susan Chepkemei (Ken) - 1.12.16
2) Hilda Kibet (Ken) - 1.12.21
3) Susanne Ritter (Ger) - 1.14.21
4) Worknesh Tola (Eth) - 1.14.28
5) Selma Borst (Net) - 1.15.32
6) Krystijna Loonen (Net) - 1.16.31
7) Jana Klimesova (Cze) - 1.16.55
8) Petra Kaminkova (Cze) - 1.17.52
9) Hanneke Schipper (Net) - 1.19.31
10) Barbara Zutt (Net) - 1.19.32

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