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Keetels Claims Dutch Crown as Rotterdam Marathon Confirms Records and a Last-Runner Twist

The event showed Rotterdam’s mix of top-tier racing with crowd-fueled personal stories.

Overview

  • The 45th NN Rotterdam Marathon, which finished Sunday in the city center on the Coolsingel, closed with national titles and several personal bests confirmed.
  • Mikky Keetels won the Dutch women’s title in 2:30:41, a personal record after holding a steady pace through 30 kilometers before a late push.
  • Filmon Tesfu finished as the fastest Dutch man in about 2:06:40, which marked a personal best for the Eritrean-born runner.
  • A customary honor for the final finisher turned awkward when the original designee refused it, and organizers named Niels Kamerling the last runner at 5:54:22.
  • Human-interest highlights included 80-year-old Wim Oudejans setting a Dutch 80+ record in 3:52, a comeback finish by a runner nine months after a heart attack, TV host Jan Versteegh completing 4:46:45 despite a torn calf, and Rik Konings running the course while juggling to spotlight Huntington’s disease.