NOS Sport•vandaag, 15:34
Herzog ‘bows deeply’ to Chepngetich after world record: ‘Was amazed’
In the run-up to the Amsterdam Marathon this Sunday, the athletics world is still talking about the sensational world record of Ruth Chepngetich (2.09.56) in Chicago.
“I was amazed that a woman could do this,” says Dutch athlete Marcella Herzog at a press moment for the marathon in her own country in which she will participate. “It was very special to see.”
Her colleague Khalid Choukoud said Chepngetich’s performance, who broke the world record by almost two minutes, was “a shock” to him. “I saw the transit times and thought maybe a mistake had been made.”
It was only when he saw the images that Choukoud believed it. “I think that’s really nice to see. They actually expected that a woman would only be running under 2.10 in 10 or 15 years, but now it’s happening within a year of the old world record.”
Chepngetich breaks the marathon world record by almost two minutes in Chicago
“She runs under 2.10, that’s all I can say about it,” said Choukoud, who does not want to talk about the “credibility” of the performance. Where top sport is practiced, boundaries are pushed, says the runner.
Herzog does not want to get stuck in the narrative that certain times are impossible. “If many people think that 2.10 is not possible, then you maintain it. Perhaps women will see this as an example and can do more than they expect.”
Marathon Amsterdam live at the NOS
The Amsterdam marathon is next Sunday and can be followed live on NOS. The marathon can be followed from 8.55 am on NPO 1 and via a stream on NOS.nl and in the NOS app. Commentary is by Léon Haan and Michel Butter.
According to her, the new world record shows how big the gap is between the Dutch top and “this violence”, by which Herzog means the world top.
“Many men will not be happy,” says Choukoud about van Chepngetich’s time. He refers to the fact that there are only four Dutch marathon runners faster than her.
Choukoud, the fastest man in the Netherlands after Abdi Nageeye with a time of 2.07.37, is motivated by the world record. “It shows that more is possible.”
“Women are running faster and faster,” says Choukoud, who says the steps between world records will become smaller. “At some point it’s going to end,” says the athlete who doesn’t believe women will run faster than 2 hours and 7 minutes.
Athlete manager Valentijn Trouw, who guides world-class athletes with his company, also sees that women are making “very big” steps. “But I didn’t see this one coming either,” referring to the record.
Yet, according to him, it is not inconceivable that the next top performance is on the way. “The mindset changes. When someone breaks a barrier, more athletes follow. The international marathon world has been shaken.”
