# Montferland Run

Pfixx Solar Montferland Run is an annual 15-kilometres road running competition held in 's-Heerenberg, Montferland, Netherlands. It was first organised in 1996 and typically takes place on the first Sunday in December.
Unlike many elite level road races, the course for the Montferland Run is a difficult, hilly one which does not easily allow for internationally fast times. The start and finish point of the race is in the old town area of 's-Heerenberg. The course has traces a circuit through the Montferland Forest and passes the small, nearby villages of Stokkum, Beek and Zeddam. The race includes both elite athlete and fun runners, and there is also a shorter 7.5 km race. In order to preserve the surrounding environment and retain the character of the races, the competition is limited to 3500 entries per year.
The Montferland Run is one of the fastest 15 km races in the world. Many top national and international athletes have competed in ’s-Heerenberg, including: Kamiel Maase, Abdi Nageeye, Bashir Abdi, Khalid Khannouchi, Kenenisa Bekele, Abel Kirui, Geoffrey Mutai, Wilson Kipsang, Stephen Kiprotich, Dennis Kimetto, Conseslus Kipruto, Sabastian Sawe, Constantina Dita, Edna Kiplagat, Sifan Hassan, Lornah Kiplagat, Meseret Defar, Amane Beriso and of course Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe.
The course records for the 15 km race are held by East African athletes: Geoffrey Koech of Kenya ran the men's record of 42:13 minutes in 2019 and Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama's run of 47:29 minutes in 2019 is the best women's time. She ran a new world best time U20
The course was previously sponsored by the Wincanton Group and its current sponsor (since 2012) is Pfixx Solar.

## Past winners

Key:  Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Nationality | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Nationality | Time (m:s) |
| 25nd | 2023 | Sabastian Sawe | Kenya | 42:35 | Medina Eisa | Ethiopia | 47:40 |
| 24nd | 2019 | Geoffrey Koech | Kenya | 42:13 | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia | 47:29 |
| 23nd | 2018 | Stephen Kissa | Uganda | 43:21 | Joan Chelimo | Kenya | 48:44 |
| 22nd | 2017 | Victor Chumo | Kenya | 43:23 | Mary Munanu | Kenya | 49:08 |
| 21st | 2016 | Herpasa Negasa | Ethiopia | 43:02 | Eunice Kirwa | Bahrain | 48:37 |
| 20th | 2015 | Abraham Cheroben | Kenya | 42:54 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia | 50:03 |
| 19th | 2014 | Hiskel Tewelde | Eritrea | 43:26 | Askale Merachi | Ethiopia | 50:42 |
| 18th | 2013 | Patrick Ereng | Kenya | 43:00 | Cynthia Kosgei | Ethiopia | 49:45 |
| 17th | 2012 | Geoffrey Mutai | Kenya | 42:25 | Atsede Baysa | Ethiopia | 49:15 |
| 16th | 2011 | Philip Langat | Kenya | 42:34 | Abebech Afework | Ethiopia | 49:19 |
| 15th | 2010 | Cancelled due to bad weather | Cancelled due to bad weather | Cancelled due to bad weather | Cancelled due to bad weather | Cancelled due to bad weather | Cancelled due to bad weather |
| 14th | 2009 | Nicholas Manza | Kenya | 42:38 | Caroline Kilel | Kenya | 49:57 |
| 13th | 2008 | Dereje Tesfaye | Ethiopia | 43:27 | Lornah Kiplagat | Netherlands | 48:49 |
| 12th | 2007 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 42:36 | Deriba Alemu | Ethiopia | 48:50 |
| 11th | 2006 | Deriba Merga | Ethiopia | 42:48 | Hilda Kibet | Kenya | 51:50 |
| 10th | 2005 | Hailu Mekonnen | Ethiopia | 43:09 | Bezunesh Bekele | Ethiopia | 48:32 |
| 9th | 2004 | Tadesse Feyissa | Ethiopia | 43:28 | Bezunesh Bekele | Ethiopia | 48:35 |
| 8th | 2003 | Richard Yatich | Kenya | 43:20 | Ayelech Worku | Ethiopia | 50:58 |
| 7th | 2002 | William Kipsang | Kenya | 44:33 | Restituta Joseph | Tanzania | 51:15 |
| 6th | 2001 | Kenenisa Bekele | Ethiopia | 42:42 | Sandra Van Den Haesevelde | Belgium | 52:15 |
| 5th | 2000 | Kenenisa Bekele | Ethiopia | 43:09 | Irma Heeren | Netherlands | 51:03 |
| 4th | 1999 | Felix Limo | Kenya | 44:08 | Nadezhda Wijenberg | Netherlands | 50:59 |
| 3rd | 1998 | Tesfaye Tola | Ethiopia | 44:05 | Mieke Pullen | Netherlands | 54:50 |
| 2nd | 1997 | Fransua Woldemariam | Ethiopia | 45:06 | Mieke Pullen | Netherlands | 53:03 |
| 1st | 1996 | Michiel Otten | Netherlands | 44:54 | Isabelle Heusinkveld | Netherlands | 57:02 |