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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Pre-race favorite Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya won the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, but failed in his bid to break the course record on a windy day in the port city.
Kipchoge ran the final four miles on his own through the streets of Rotterdam to finish in exactly 2 hours, 5 minutes. Fellow Kenyan Bernard Koech was second in 2:06:07.
Organizers had hoped to break the course record of 2:04:27 set in 2009 by the Kenyans Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai, but pacemakers dropped out regularly as wind hindered the runners.
"I'm happy to win the race," Kipchoge said. "Next time, I will come for the course record."
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