Kenyan Samwel Mailu and European silver medalist Matea Parlov Kostro to toe the line at Frankfurt Marathon

The 40th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29 will feature European Silver Medalist Matea Parlov Kostro and rising Kenyan star Samwel Mailu. Taking into account events held in conjunction with the main race, organizers of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon expect around 25,000 participants on the last Sunday of October. The event holds an Elite Road Race Label, awarded by World Athletics, the sport’s governing organization.

“In Matea Parlov Kostro and Samwel Mailu we’ve succeeded in recruiting two rising stars of the international marathon scene. I’m delighted that we are going to have two popular figures in running on the start line in Frankfurt,” said the race director Jo Schindler. “After our successful comeback from the Corona lockdown a year ago we want to stage an exciting show of running in celebrating the anniversary of the oldest German city race in Frankfurt.

A year ago Mailu made his event debut at the Frankfurt Marathon. He was originally entered as a pacemaker but the now 30-year-old Kenyan showed top form, did not drop out of the race and, despite the role of pacemaker, finished second in 2:07:19. After this strong debut he won The Wein Marathon in April to take the next step in his career. Despite high temperatures, Mailu triumphed in Vienna with 2:05:08, breaking the men’s course record which had stood for nine years.

After his success in the 40th edition of Austria’s most important road race, Mailu now has another big anniversary event in his sights, “I have a good feeling in returning to Frankfurt. After all, I made my marathon debut there and the organization is very good. My aim is to improve my personal best and to run under 2:05 in Frankfurt,” said Mailu. In his hometown of Ulawani, the Kenyan supports younger runners and also takes on the role of event director himself, organizing a 10k road race.

Kostro will be racing in Frankfurt for the first time. The 31-year-old has made great inroads among the European marathon elite in recent years and became a sporting star at home in Croatia after the European Championships in 2022. Her silver medal was the first of any kind won by a Croatian woman in a running event since the European Championships were first staged almost a century ago. She achieved the biggest win of her career so far in winning the Hanover title in April, running 2:25:45 for a course record and personal best.

“I decided to run Frankfurt because I knew that it offers a high-quality field and fast course. I always have a good feeling when I race in Germany – and that’s another reason for deciding on Frankfurt,” explained Matea Parlov Kostro, who is almost certain of an Olympic marathon place for Croatia in Paris next year. “I hope that I further improve my personal best in Frankfurt and am looking forward very much to the race, especially the fantastic finish in the Festhalle.”

posted Tuesday August 15th
by Christopher Kelsall