Running News Daily

Hawi Feysa smashes course record with 2:17:25 in Frankfurt

Hawi Feysa took the 41st Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with a superb course record: The 25 year-old Ethiopian ran 2:17:25 to improve the former women’s record by 1:45. It was also the 12th fastest performance this year. Second-placed Kenyan Magdalyne Masai ran a big personal best of 2:18:58 and also finished inside the former course record of 2:19:10. Ethiopia’s Shuko Genemo was third with 2:22:37.

The men’s race had its surprise as well: the 22 year-old Kenyan debutant Benard Biwott triumphed to cross the line in 2:05:54 in Frankfurt’s Festhalle. The Ethiopians Gossa Challa and Lencho Tesfaye took second and third with 2:07:35 and 2:08:02 respectively. The combined winning times of the women’s and men’s champions came to 4:23:19, the fastest aggregate time ever in the history of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Organisers registered 13,939 runners from 113 nations. Adding events at shorter distances, the total was 25,616 athletes.

“To have such as fantastic course record is so satisfying for all of us involved. You can prepare a great deal in elite sport but nothing is guaranteed. We had ideal conditions, many personal bests and many wonderful scenes of celebration at the finish,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler. The Elite Race Coordinator Philipp Kopp added his thoughts: “Once again we’ve shown that you can run fast in Frankfurt.” The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon had 13,939 runners from 113 countries and, taking into consideration events held in conjunction, had in total 25,616 participants.

Women’s Race: Feysa’s breakthrough, Schwiening fastest European

Hawi Feysa achieved a sensational breakthrough in the marathon by running 2:17:25. The Ethiopian had shown highly creditable performances at shorter distances and finished sixth in the World Cross Country Championships in 2023. Winning the marathon in a course record took her to a new level. “The record was my goal and everything went perfectly. After 25 kilometres I had enough energy left to run away from the group. I was very happy with my race plan. The atmosphere along the course helped me a lot. You can certainly run 2;16 on this fast course,” Hawi Feysa reflected.

Right from the start the fastest runners set out to make a concerted attack on the course record of 2:19:10. Although no runner had a personal best faster than 2:21:17, the pace was consistently aimed at breaking the record. “I wanted originally to run at my own pace alone at the head of the field. But the organizers planned that we ran together as a group until 25 kilometres. The tactic proved very good,” said Feysa, in praise of sporting director Philipp Kopp.

Five women went through halfway in 69:19, among them Hawi Feysa and the two sisters, Magdalyne and Linet Masai from Kenya. When Feysa increased the pace after 25 kilometres, only Magdalyne Masai followed her. Until just before 40 km, Masai was still in contention with the gap a few seconds. But Hawi Feysa proved unbeatable and ran a clearly faster second half of the race to finish in triumph in the Festhalle. Magdalyne Masai was a highly creditable second in 2:18:58.

While it was the first time that two women ran below 2:20 in Frankfurt a large number of elite runners achieved personal bests: Four women from the top 5 and six from the top 10 ran PBs. British runners achieved a string of great results in Frankfurt: Georgina Schwiening was the fastest European with a strong PB of 2:25:46 in eleventh place. A staggering number of seven British women finished inside the top 25 in the „Festhalle“.

Men’s Race: A day for the debutants

The men’s elite field, featuring talent spread evenly throughout, set off at a pace which made the target finishing time of under 2:05 a real possibility. Split times of 29:38 for 10km and 44:30 at 15km pointed to a time in the region of just under 2:05. Subsequently the pace dropped somewhat, despite the excellent weather conditions with temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees, overcast and almost no win. But with a number of kilometre splits around 3 minutes, halfway was reached in 62:52. For much of the time, the 13-strong leading group then stayed compact and there was little change.

The first serious attack came only after 30 km but it proved decisive: Bernard Biwott went to the front and only Gossa Challa proved capable of going with the marathon debutant. But when the Kenyan forced the pace again between 35 and 37 kilometres and covered the single kilometres in around 2:50, the Ethiopian had no reply. Biwott, who previously had shown highly promising form at half marathon, achieving a best of 59:44, won with over a minute and a half to spare. “I’m so happy because I didn’t expect that I could win on my debut. I want to thank the organizers and my manager Gianni Demadonna for their support,” said Bernard Biwott who had achieved a rare win here on debut. The last occasion in the men’s race in Frankfurt was in 2008 when a fellow Kenyan, Robert Cheruiyot, won in what was then a course record of 2:07:21.

To add to the surprises, a marathon debutant was also the fastest runner from Germany in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Jan Lukas Becker finished 17th in 2:15:20 and had been on course for a finishing time of under 2:11 for much of the race. 

Results, Men:

1. Benard Biwott KEN 2:05:54

2. Gossa Challe ETH 2:07:35

3. Lencho Tesfaye ETH 2:08:02

4. Gerba Dibaba ETH 2:09:03

5. Aychew Dessie ETH 2:09:22

6. Workneh Serbessa ETH 2:09:30

7. Christopher Muthini KEN 2:09:31

8. Ebba Chala  SWE 2:09:35

9. Tim Vincent AUS 2:09:40

10. Mulat Gebeyehu ETH 2:10:07

Women:

1. Hawi Feysa ETH 2:17:25

2. Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:18:58

3. Shuko Genemo ETH 2:22:37

4. Catherine Cherotich KEN 2:22:42

5. Agnes Keino KEN 2:22:53

6. Kidsan Alema ETH 2:23:27

7. Linet Masai KEN 2:23:52

8. Judith Kiyeng KEN 2:24:41

9. Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:25:13

10. Aberash Korsa ETH 2:25:43

Kenya's Elisha Rotich eyes record breaking time at Frankfurt Marathon

Rotich who stands out in the men’s lineup with his exceptional personal best of 2:04:21 is eying a record time finish on the course.

Kenya’s elite marathoners are set for a fierce showdown at the Frankfurt Marathon this Sunday, with seasoned runner Elisha Rotich leading the charge.

Rotich, renowned for his prowess on the marathon circuit, stands out in the men’s lineup with his exceptional personal best of 2:04:21, achieved during his record-breaking win at the 2021 Paris Marathon.

This feat notably saw him surpass the esteemed Kenenisa Bekele’s best time, firmly establishing Rotich as a formidable presence in international marathon running.

Rotich has expressed confidence in his preparations, noting he has spent five intensive months training specifically for the Frankfurt Marathon.

“I’ve rigorously trained for five months targeting the Frankfurt Marathon. Favorable weather, cooler temperatures, and cooperative pacing within the lead group could facilitate sub-2:05 performances,” he shared via Watch Athletics.

Optimistic about favorable weather conditions and strong pacing, Rotich hopes these factors will help him achieve another remarkable sub-2:05 finish.

However, Rotich’s path to the top won’t be without challenge.

He faces tough competition from a talented Ethiopian quartet, including Lencho Tesfaye, who has a personal best of 2:06:18, Aychew Banti (2:06:23), Abay Alemu (2:06:50), and Birhan Nebebew (2:06:52).

Each of these runners has consistently delivered strong performances, underscoring the intense competition that awaits on Sunday.

In addition to Rotich, Kenya is represented by Reuben Kiprop (2:09:06), Bernard Muia (2:09:17), and Vincent Ronoh (2:09:21). T

his group, while less heralded, brings both depth and resilience to Kenya's bid for top honors in Frankfurt.

The women’s field also promises excitement, with Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai leading her country’s contingent with a commendable personal best of 2:22:16.

Masai will face tough competition from Ethiopia’s Shuko Genemo, who has clocked 2:21:35, and Meseret Dinke (2:22:35).

All eyes, however, remain on the 2019 Frankfurt course record of 2:19:10 set by Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei.

With such a strong lineup, the possibility of breaking Aiyabei’s record appears within reach.

Elisha Rotich and Yeshi Chekole head strong elite fields in Frankfurt

Elisha Rotich of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole head the elite field of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon next Sunday. Rotich has a personal best of 2:04:21 while Chekole’s personal record stands at 2:21:17. More than 14,000 marathon runners have entered the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon which is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race.

A number of athletes had to cancel their start recently due to either injury or visa problems. Among them are Ethiopians Herpasa Negasa and Tigist Abayechew as well as Eric Kiptanui of Kenya. The men’s start list now features four runners with personal bests of sub 2:07:00 and another ten who have run below 2:10:00. 

While the leading men will probably run a 2:05 pace and organisers hope that a winning time slightly below that mark might be possible, the women could produce the highlight at the 41st edition of Germany’s oldest city marathon. They are expected to attack the course record of Valary Aiyabei. The Kenyan ran 2:19:10 in 2019. Five women have entered the race featuring personal bests of sub 2:23:00. Additionally Ethiopia’s Hawi Feiysa might do very well. She currently has a PB of 2:23:36. But her half marathon time of 65:41 suggests that she should be able to run much faster. Additionally Hawi Feiysa ran a brilliant race at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, last year when she placed sixth. 

Tom Thurley and Laura Hottenrott lead the domestic challenge in Frankfurt. Thurley was second in this year’s national championships with 2:14:52 and Hottenrott ran 2:24:32 in Valencia a year ago. She competed in the Olympic marathon in Paris and finished 38th. 

Elite runners with personal bests

MEN

Elisha Rotich  KEN  2:04:21

Lencho Tesfaye  ETH  2:06:18

Aychew Bantie  ETH  2:06:23

Birhan Nebebew  ETH  2:06:52

Gossa Challa ETH 2:07:43

Workneh Serbessa ETH 2:07:58

Abdelaziz Merzougui  ESP  2:08:00

Gerba Dibaba ETH 2:08:25

Jake Robertson  NZL  2:08:26

Belay Bezabeh ETH 2:08:58

Ebba Chala SWE 2:09:06

Reuben Narry KEN 2:09:06

Bernard Muia KEN 2:09:17

Vincent Ronoh KEN 2:09:21

Tom Thurley  GER 2:14:52

Jonathan Dahlke  GER  2:15:42

Jan Lukas Becker GER Debüt

WOMEN

Yeshi Chekole ETH 2:21:17

Shuko Genemo ETH 2:21:35

Magdalyne Masai  KEN  2:22:16

Kidsan Alema ETH 2:22:28

Meseret Dinke ETH 2:22:52

Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:23:02

Agnes Keino KEN 2:23:26

Hawi Feiysa ETH 2:23:36

Linet Masai  KEN  2:23:46 

Laura Hottenrott GER 2:24:32

Tadelech Nedi ETH 2:26:23

Georgina Schwiening GBR 2:26:28

Aberash Korsa  ETH 2:29:04

Laura Hottenrott from Kassel is Europe's hope at the Frankfurt Marathon

Laura Hottenrott will be at the start of this year's Frankfurt Marathon. This was announced by the organizer on Tuesday. With a best time of 2:24:32 hours, the runner from Kassel is considered the fastest European in the strong field. At the Olympic Games in Paris, the North Hessian finished 38th in 2:31:19 hours.

However, Hottenrott will probably not compete for the title in Frankfurt. On October 27, six athletes will also be competing in the Main metropolis with best times under 2:23 hours. The fastest in the field is Tigist Abayechew, who ran 2:18:03 in Berlin two years ago. This makes the Ethiopian the fastest runner ever to be on a start list in Frankfurt.

Organizers hope for new record time

"Due to the compact field in the women's top, we hope that we will see an exciting race and times of under 2:20:00 hours. Maybe even the course record set by Kenyan Valary Aiyabei five years ago will fall," said race director Jo Schindler.

Aiyabei had run a time of 2:19:10 hours in 2019. Last year, winner Buzunesh Getachew Gudeta from Ethiopia was only 17 seconds slower.

How to train for a marathon no matter how fit you are

If you’re planning a marathon, you’re on the road to becoming part of a select proportion of the global population – 0.01 per cent, to be exact. But that doesn’t mean running one is exclusive to the lycra-clad minority. With the right planning, training and dogged determination anyone can have a go. Here’s what you need to know if you’re gearing up to train for the race of your life.

Which marathon should I choose to run?

The London Marathon is special, with incredible atmospheric and historic appeal, but it’s notoriously tricky to get a place and is far from the only one to consider. All marathons are 26.2 miles, so if you’re a beginner, you might want to choose what seasoned runners call an “easy” marathon – one with a flat and paved course. While the Brighton Marathon is one of the most popular (and mostly flat) UK spring races, the Greater Manchester Marathon is known as the flattest and fastest UK option. The under-the-radar Abingdon Marathon is one of the oldest in the UK and also has a flat route – great for new runners and for those who are keen to beat their personal bests. 

Around Europe, try the Berlin and Frankfurt marathons in Germany, or the Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands. More recently, the Valencia and Seville marathons in Spain have grown in appeal. For a great beginner list, visit coopah.com. It’s worth doing your research to ensure it’s a route you’ll enjoy (atmospheric, well populated, flat, historic… whatever piques your interest), as this will pay dividends when things get tough. 

Training

How long does it take to train for a marathon? 

“You need 16-to-18 weeks of training,” says Richard Pickering, a UK Athletics qualified endurance coach. “And if you’re starting from nothing, I think you need closer to six months.” This may sound like a long time to dedicate to one event but a structured plan will help you develop the strength, endurance and aerobic capacity to run longer distances. Not to mention work wonders for your overall health.

“Anyone can run a marathon if they are willing to put in the hard work,’ says Cory Wharton-Malcolm, Apple Fitness+ Trainer and author of All You Need Is Rhythm & Grit . “As long as you give yourself enough time and enough grace, you can accomplish anything.’

Ready to get running? Read on.

Five steps to preparing for a marathon

1. Follow a training plan and increase mileage gradually

“Even if it’s a simple plan, and that plan is to run X times per week or run X miles per week, it’s beneficial to have something guiding you,’ says Wharton-Malcolm. ‘It’s happened to me, without that guidance, you may overtrain causing yourself an injury that could have been avoided. And if you’re injured, you’re far less likely to fall in love with running.”

For authoritative plans online, see marathon event websites (try the Adidas Manchester Marathon or the TCS London Marathon websites) or from a chosen charity such as the British Heart Foundation. Most will consist of the key training sessions: speed work (spurts of fast running with stationary or active rest periods), tempo runs (running at a sustained “comfortably uncomfortable” pace), and long-distance slogs. 

Most marathon plans will abide by the 10 per cent rule, in that they won’t increase the total run time or distance by more than 10 per cent each week – something that will reduce your risk of injury. 

2. Practise long runs slowly 

Long runs are your bread-and-butter sessions. They prepare your body to tolerate the distance by boosting endurance, and give you the strength to stay upright for hours. Intimidating as this sounds, the best pace for these runs is a joyously slow, conversational speed.

“People may think they need to do their marathon pace in long runs,” says Pickering, “but it’s good to run slowly because it educates the body to burn fat as fuel. This teaches it to use a bit of fat as well as glycogen when it goes faster on race day, and that extends your energy window so that you’re less likely to hit the ‘wall’.”

The caveat: running slowly means you’re going to be out for a while. With the average training plan peaking at 20 miles, you could be running for many hours. “When I did lots of long runs, I had a number of tools: listening to music, audio-guided runs, apps or audio books,” says Wharton-Malcom. “I used to run lots of routes, explore cities… You can also do long runs with friends or colleagues, or get a train somewhere and run back so it’s not the same boring route.” 

3. Do regular speed work 

Speed work may sound like the reserve of marathon aficionados, but it’s good for new long-distance runners too. “I think people misunderstand speed work,” says Wharton-Malcom. “The presumption is that the moment you add ‘speed’ to training, you have to run like Usain Bolt, but all ‘speed’ means is faster than the speed you’d normally be running. So if you go out for a 20-minute run, at the end of the first nine minutes, run a little faster for a minute, then at the end of the second nine minutes, run a little faster for a minute.” 

Small injections of pace are a great way for novices to reap the benefits. “The idea is to find the sweet spot between ‘Ah, I can only hold on to this for 10 seconds’ and ‘I can hold on to this for 30-to-60 seconds’,” he adds. 

Hill sprints are great for increasing speed. Try finding a loop with an incline that takes 30 seconds to ascend, then run it continuously for two to three lots of 10 minutes with a 90-second standing rest.

Interval work is also a speed-booster. Try three lots of three minutes at tempo pace with a 90-second standing rest. “The recovery [between intervals] is when you get your breath back and your body recirculates lactate [a by-product of intense exercise, which ultimately slows bodies down],” explains Pickering, “and this means you’re able to do more than you otherwise would.”

4. Run at marathon-pace sometimes 

Every now and then, throw in some running at your chosen race pace. “You need to get used to a bit of marathon pace,” says Pickering, “but I wouldn’t put it into your programme religiously.”

Some runners like to practise marathon pace in a “build-up” race, typically a half-marathon. “It can give people confidence,” says Pickering. “Your half-marathon should be six-to-seven weeks prior to the main event, and have a strategy to ensure you’re not racing it because you need to treat it as a training run.”

5. Schedule in rest and recovery 

Of course, no training plan is complete without some R&R. Rest days give your body a chance to adapt to the stresses you’ve put it through and can provide a mental break. “Active recovery” is a swanky term for taking lighter exercise such as an easy run, long walk, gentle swim, some yoga – crucial because you don’t want to do two hard sessions back-to-back. “A long run would count as a hard day, so if your long run is on Sunday, you could do an easy run such as 30-40 minutes at a conversational pace on a Monday, but don’t do anything fast until Tuesday,” says Pickering.

What about recovery tools? 

Foam rollers, massage guns, ice baths – the list is long. Pickering says to keep it simple: “I would encourage foam rolling [relieving muscle tension by rolling over a foam tube] or sports massage, and they’re kind of the same thing.” 

And Wharton-Malcom swears by the restorative power of a good rest: “From personal experience, sleep is our secret weapon and it’s so underrated. Getting your eight-hours-plus per night, taking power naps during the day… you can do so well with just sleeping a bit more.”

Race day

How to perform your best on race day – what to eat 

“The marathon is going to be relying on carbohydrate loading [such as spaghetti, mashed potato, rice pudding], which should take place one-to-three days before an event,” explains performance nutritionist Matt Lovell. Other choices might include: root vegetables (carrots, beetroot), breads or  low-fat yoghurts. 

“On the day, the main goal is to keep your blood glucose as stable as possible by filling up any liver glycogen.” Which means eating a breakfast rich in slow-release carbohydrates, such as porridge, then taking on board isotonic drinks, like Lucozade Sport or coconut water, and energy gels roughly every 30-45 minutes.

How to stay focused 

Even with the right fuel in your body, the going will get tough. But when you feel like you can’t do any more, there is surprisingly more in the tank than you realise.

“Sports scientists used to think we eat food, it turns into fuel within our body and, when we use it up, we stop and fall over with exhaustion,” says performance psychologist Dr Josephine Perry. “Then they did muscle biopsies to understand that, when we feel totally exhausted, we actually still have about 30 per cent energy left in the muscles.”

How do you tap into that magic 30 per cent? By staying motivated – and this ultimately comes down to finding a motivational mantra that reminds you of your goal and reason for running. 

“Motivational mantras are incredibly personal – you can’t steal somebody else’s because it sounds good; it has to talk to you,’ explains Dr Perry, author of The Ten Pillars of Success. “Adults will often have their children as part of their motivational mantra – they want to make them proud, to be a good role model. If you’re doing it for a charity, it might be that.” Write your motivational mantra on your energy gel, drinks bottle or hand. “It doesn’t just need to come from you,” adds Dr Perry. “I love getting athletes’ friends and family to write messages to stick on their nutrition, so every time they take a gel out of their pocket, they’ve got a message from someone who loves them.” Perry is supporting the Threshold Sports’ Ultra 50:50 campaign, encouraging female participation in endurance running events. 

Smile every mile, concludes Dr Perry: “Research shows that when you smile it reduces your perception of effort, so you’re basically tricking your brain into thinking that what you’re doing isn’t as difficult as it is.”

One thing is for sure, you’re going to be on a high for a while. “What happens for most people is they run the race and, for most of the race, they say ‘I’m never doing this again,’ says Wharton-Malcom. “Then the following morning, they think, ‘OK, what’s next?’” 

What clothes should you wear for a marathon? 

What you wear can also make a difference. Look for clothing made with moisture-wicking fabrics that will move sweat away from the skin, keeping you dry and comfortable. An anti-chafe stick such as Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm is a worthy investment, or simply try some Vaseline, as it will stop any areas of the skin that might rub (under the arms, between the thighs) from getting irritated. Seamless running socks, like those from Smartwool, can also help to reduce rubbing and the risk of blisters. 

Post-race recovery

What to eat and drink

Before you revel in your achievement, eat and drink something. Lovell says recovery fuel is vital: “Getting carbohydrates back into the body after a marathon is crucial. It’s a forgiving time for having lots of calories from carbohydrates and proteins, maybe as a recovery shake or a light meal such as a banana and a protein yoghurt.” 

Have a drink of water with a hydration tablet or electrolyte powder to replenish fluid and electrolyte salts (magnesium, potassium, sodium) lost through sweat.

“You can have a glass of red later if you want, but your priority is to rehydrate with salts first, then focus on carbohydrate replenishment, then have some protein, and then other specialist items such as anti-inflammatories.” Choose anti-inflammatory compounds such as omega 3 and curcumin from turmeric, which you can get as a supplement, to help reduce excessive inflammation and allow for better muscle rebuilding. 

Tart cherry juice – rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and naturally occurring melatonin – could also be useful, with the latest research reporting that it can reduce muscle pain after a long-distance race and improve both sleep quantity and quality by five-to-six per cent. “And anything that improves blood flow such as beetroot juice, which is a good vasodilator, will help with endurance and recovery,” adds Lovell. Precision Hydration tablets are very good for heavy sweaters.

Any other other good products to help with recovery? 

The post-run recovery market is a saturated one, but there are a few products worth trying. Magnesium – from lotions and bath flakes to oil sprays drinks and supplements – relaxes muscles and can prevent muscle cramps, as well as aiding recovery-boosting sleep. 

Compression socks boost blood flow and therefore the removal of waste products from hardworking muscles, and have been shown to improve recovery when worn in the 48 hours after a marathon. Arnica has anti-inflammatory properties that can help speed up the healing process after a long run, and can be used as an arnica balm or soak. 

Cherop, Negewo and Kipkemoi are set to challenge for victory in Istanbul

A mix of highly experienced marathon runners with strong personal records and younger challengers could produce some fascinating races at the 46th Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon on November 3rd.

Ethiopia’s Abebe Negewo and Kenneth Kipkemoi of Kenya head the current start list with personal bests of sub 2:05:00. Kenya’s former World Championships’ marathon bronze medalist Sharon Cherop is the fastest woman on the list with 2:22:28. Cherop, Negewo and Kipkemoi have all turned 40 this year, but they are still going very strong. They will have to hit top form if they want to challenge for victory in Istanbul. Ethiopians Kelkile Gezahegn and Sentayehu Lewetegn will be among their rivals while 24 year-old debutante Betty Kibet of Kenya could produce a surprise.

A total of 42,500 runners have entered the race that leads the athletes from the Asian side of the city onto the July 15 Martyrs Bridge and then into the European part of Istanbul. 7,500 of them will run the classic distance on 3rd November. The event is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, which guarantees high standards in every aspect. Entries will still be accepted until next Monday (October  14th) at: https://maraton.istanbul

“No marathon is run in a city that bears the traces of three great empires that have left a significant mark on world history. No marathon passes over a bridge that connects continents above a magnificent strait. Thanks to this unique feature, we believe that the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is the best thematic marathon in the world,” said Race Director Renay Onur.

There are now many examples of runners who have turned 40 and still going strong: Kenenisa Bekele, Tadesse Abraham or Edna Kiplagat are among them. With a personal best of 2:04:51 Abebe Negewo is the runner with the fastest PB in the Istanbul field. He ran this time in Valencia in 2019 when he was fourth. While Negewo, who is also known as Abebe Degefa, has not raced as often as during his early career he produced one excellent marathon in each year: 2:05:27 in Valencia in 2021, 2:06:05 in Hamburg in 2022 and 2:08:12 in Rotterdam last year. Negewo has not competed yet this year, so if he wants to continue this streak of strong results Istanbul will be his best chance.

Kenneth Kipkemoi is the other top-class marathon runner in Istanbul’s men’s field who turned 40 this year. The Kenyan’s last three marathons were consistently fast: Kipkemoi ran 2:08:15 in Rotterdam in 2023 and then won the Eindhoven Marathon in the autumn with a personal best of 2:04:52. This year he returned to Rotterdam where he was fourth with 2:05:43.

Two Ethiopians who are more than ten years younger will be among the favourites as well. 28 year-old Kelkile Gezahegn, who has a PB of 2:05:56, is a runner who focusses fully on the classic distance. Since the start of his international career in 2016 he competed only in city marathons. He managed to win all his first four marathons in the year 2016, all in China. “The marathon is my distance,“ said Kellie Gezahegn when he won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2018. Dejene Debela is 29 years old and ran his personal best of 2:05:46 when he was runner-up in Chicago in 2019. After a two year-break, which seems to have been injury related, he came back this year with 2:09:33 in Taiyuan, China.

Sharon Cherop is the most prominent athlete in the elite field of the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon. The 40 year-old Kenyan took the bronze medal in the marathon at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011. A year later Cherop won the prestigious Boston Marathon and in 2013 she clocked her PB of 2:22:28 when she was runner-up in Berlin. This PB makes her the fastest woman on the start list in Istanbul. Sharon Cherop is still going strong. Last year she won the Milan Marathon and this spring she was second in Hannover with 2:24:41. “I think I can run for a couple of more years,“ she said after the race in Germany.

Sentayehu Lewetegn will be among Sharon Cherop’s challengers. The Ethiopian ran a strong debut in Frankfurt in 2018 with 2:22:45 for sixth place. The 28 year-old could not improve this PB yet, but she came close in Ljubljana: Two years ago she was second there with 2:22:36.

Betty Kibet is an athlete who could have an immediate impact in the marathon. The 24 year-old Kenyan will run her debut over the classic distance in Istanbul. While she has a promising 66:37 half marathon PB she ran the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Half Marathon this April and finished sixth with a fine 68:39. Betty Kibet, who was a world-class junior athlete in her early career, has a strong 10k PB of 31:08 and ran 1:21:43 in Kolkata, India, for 25k in December last year.

Deep women’s elite field to compete in Frankfurt Marathon

Six women who have personal bests of sub 2:23:00 are on the start list for the 41st Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 27th October. Because of the great depth of the women’s field the 2:19:10 course record could become a target. Ethiopians Tigist Abayechew and Yeshi Chekole are the two fastest entrants while two and a half months after competing at the Olympic Games Germany’s Laura Hottenrott leads the European challenge.

Organisers of Germany’s oldest city marathon race expect more than 14,000 entries. Adding races at shorter distances this figure is expected to rise above 25,000. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. In contrast to many major international autumn marathons entries are still accepted at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

"With such a fine women’s field we hope for a thrilling race and possibly sub 2:20:00 times. If weather conditions will be suitable may be the course record, which Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei established five years ago, can be broken,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.  

With a personal best of 2:18:03 Ethiopia’s Tigist Abayechew is the fastest woman ever entered for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. It was in Berlin two years ago, when she smashed her personal best and improved to 2:18:03 for third place. Fellow-Ethiopian Yeshi Chekole ran 2:21:17 in Sevilla two years ago.

Four more women have personal bests of sub 2:23:00 and want to use the fast Frankfurt course for good times: Ethiopians Shuko Genemo (2:21:35), Kidsan Alena (2:22:28) and Meseret Meleka (2:22:52) as well as Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai (2:22:16). Another one to watch will be Hawi Feiysa. The Ethiopian has a PB of 2:23:36 and produced a superb performance at last year’s World Cross Country Championships when she finished sixth. She also features a very fast half marathon PB of 65:41.

Germany’s Laura Hottenrott is the fastest European woman on the start list. Last year she smashed her personal best with 2:24:32 in Valencia. She competed in the Olympic marathon in Paris and finished 38th. 

'You will not be an athlete forever'- When double Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimin Misoi explained life on and off the track

A reflection on Brimin Kipkorir Misoi's remarkable journey over the last decade, from humble beginnings as a farmer to marathon champion, overcoming injuries and challenges.

Often, the simplest people harbor the most extraordinary stories.

In the high-altitude village of Kapkitony, Keiyo South, Brimin Kipkorir Misoi, a two-time Frankfurt Marathon champion lives a life that reflects his humility and resilience.

You might mistake him for an ordinary farmer as you pass through his village, spotting him shelling beans or herding cattle.

But beneath the unassuming exterior lies a man who has conquered the world of long-distance road racing despite facing overwhelming hurdles along the way.

"You will not be an athlete forever," Misoi said with a smile during a January 2024 interview with The Standard.

"That’s why I still farm—because one day, I’ll retire."

At 34, Misoi stands at the peak of his career. His back-to-back victories at the Frankfurt Marathon in 2022 and 2023 have established him as a formidable force in global athletics, yet his journey was far from smooth.

Misoi’s rise to stardom was not a product of instant success; rather, it was built on perseverance, patience, and a will to overcome setbacks.

Misoi began his marathon journey in local Kenyan races known for being some of the most grueling in the world.

"Local races in Kenya are the toughest. Anyone who wins here can win anywhere in the world," he says.

But his early years were marred by injuries and stiff competition from more experienced athletes as his humble beginnings in Kapkitony meant that resources and professional training were hard to come by.

In 2016, he finished 50th in the Kass Marathon and later placed 11th in the same race, a position that almost drove him to quit athletics.

"I was thinking of giving up after finishing 11th in the Kass Marathon, but I couldn’t. My family depended on me, and I came from a humble background. I needed to keep going," recalled the father of three.

Misoi’s fortunes changed in 2017 when he won the Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon.

That victory marked his breakthrough, paving the way for international opportunities. However, his career remained fraught with challenges. Injuries sidelined him in races like the Lille and Gold Coast Marathons, forcing him to drop out.

Yet, each setback fueled his determination. His relentless pursuit of success culminated in his first Frankfurt Marathon win in 2022, a triumph that he would repeat the following year with a personal best of 2:04:53.

"When I’m at home, I’m just a farmer," Misoi said, his voice imbued with pride.

Farming, for him, is more than a livelihood; it is a connection to his family and community.

"It helps me recover after tough races. It’s also a reminder that life isn’t all about running."

Despite his modest demeanor, Misoi harbors big ambitions as his dream is to wear the Kenyan colors at an international championship.

"If the opportunity to represent Kenya comes, I’ll take it," he says.

Though injuries have haunted his career, Misoi remains optimistic about the future, particularly with advancements in shoe technology that could reduce the risk of injuries.

"Good shoes can make a big difference. Our roads are rough, and when shoes wear out, they put us at risk," he explains.

For now, Brimin Misoi is focused on the races ahead determined to make the most of his athletic career.

Yet, as he shells beans in his village he remains grounded by the reality that one day he will hang up his running shoes and return to the farm where his story first began.

Koech eyes Amsterdam title in third attempt

Two-time Hamburg Marathon champion Bernard Koech returns to the Netherlands on October 20 hoping to win the Amsterdam Marathon title on his third attempt.

In 2021, Koech finished second in a personal best of 2:04:09 behind Ethiopia’s Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola (2:03:39) and ahead of Leul Gebresilase (2:04:12).

On his debut in 2013, he was third in 2:06:29 behind Wilson Chebet (2:05:35) and Ethiopia’s Birhanu Girma (2:06:04). 

In April, he defended his Hamburg Marathon title in 2:04:24, 15 seconds slower than in 2023.

The 31-year-old’s impressive resume features runners-up finishes from the 2014 Rotterdam Marathon (2:06:08) and the 2012 Lille Half Marathon (59:10).

He finished second at the 2023 Copenhagen Half Marathon clocking 59:13 behind Edward Cheserek (59:11).

He placed fourth at the 2022 Chicago Marathon (2:07:15) in a race won by Olympic bronze medalist Benson Kipruto (2:04:24) with Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura (2:04:49) and John Korir (2:05:01) completing the podium.

Koech placed fourth at the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 59:46.

He recorded a Did Not Finish at the 2013 World Championships.

Koech's main competition will come from the Ethiopians led by the 2023 Frankfurt Marathon third-place finisher Guye Adola.

Adola boasts a personal best of 2:03:46 set during the 2017 Berlin Marathon when he placed second behind two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge (2:03:32).

The Ethiopian holds victories from the 2021 Berlin marathon (2:05:45), the 2014 New Delhi Half Marathon (59:06) and the 2017 Ostia Half Marathon (59:18).

He will be joined by Tsegaye Getachew, who claimed the Amsterdam title in 2022 in 2:04:49.

The 2024 Hamburg Marathon runner-up Winfridah Moraa and 2014 World Half Marathon bronze medalist Selly Chepyego lead the Kenyan charge in the women's race.

Moraa has a personal best of 2:18:25 from Hamburg and has notable wins from the 2022 Madrid (1:07:22) and Arezzo (1:07:58) half marathons.

Chepyego, with a PB of 2:20:03 from her second-place finish at last year’s Barcelona Marathon, is no stranger to the podium.

She claimed gold at the 2001 World Youth Championships in the 3,000m (9:09.95) and bronze at the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships (1:07:52).

Kibii leads Kenyan charge at Hengshui Lake Marathon

Fresh from winning the 2024 Stockholm Marathon triumph, Fredrick Kibii will spearhead a formidable Kenyan lineup at the Hengshui Lake Marathon in China on Sunday.

The 28-year-old triumphed at the Stockholm Marathon in June, crossing the line in 2:14:17, leading a Kenyan top-five finish.

Robert Ng'eno (2:14:30) and Benard Kipkorir (2:15:41) completed the podium with Kennedy Kipyeko (2:15:53) and Abednego Cheruiyot (2:16:46) in tow.

In April, Kibii clocked 2:08:56 to finish fourth at the Linz Marathon, trailing Eritrea’s Goitom Kifle (2:08:15), Denis Chirchir (2:08:28) and Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela (2:08:38).

Kibii's impressive resume boasts a third-place finish at the 2023 Hannover Marathon, clocking 2:08:09 behind Germany’s Amanal Petros (2:07:02) and Chirchir (2:07:17).

He finished a solid seventh-place finish at the Frankfurt Marathon later that year (2:09:33).

Joining Kibii in China is Boaz Kipkemei, who finished second at this year’s Hannover Marathon in April in a time of 2:07:06.

Gevin Kerich, who was three seconds (2:06:52) behind last year’s Doha Marathon winner, Morocco's Mohcin Outalha, is also in contention.

Kerich grabbed second place at the 2022 Eindhoven Marathon (2:07:07).

Boniface Kimutai rounds off a strong Kenyan contingent, who face stiff competition from Ethiopian runners, led by 2020 Seville Marathon champion Mekuant Ayenew, Copenhagen Marathon runner-up Gadisa Birhanu and Daegu Marathon third-place finisher Berhane Tsegay.

Hannover Marathon third-place finisher Lilian Jebitok will headline the women’s elite field.

Her resume includes a victory at the 2019 Casablanca Marathon (2:31:31) and a third-place finish at the 2018 Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon (2:42:23).

She is joined by Tallinn Marathon champion Mercy Kwambai, second at the Copenhagen Marathon in May (2:28:12) and runner-up at the 2022 Bregenz Marathon (2:30:15).

Ethiopia will once again provide the competition with 2021 Stockholm Marathon champion Atalel Anmut leading the charge.

She has Seville Marathon third-place finisher Urge Diro and Xuzhou Marathon champion Derartu Hailu for company.

Seven runners under 2:07 are set for Frankfurt

Seven runners with personal bests of sub 2:07 are on the start list of the 41st edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 27th.

It looks very likely that the eventual winner will come from one of the two great running nations, Kenya and Ethiopia. While Herpasa Negasa of Ethiopia remains the number one on the list with his world-class personal best of 2:03:40 Elisha Rotich is among the new additions. The Kenyan has a PB of 2:04:21.

Organizers expect a total of more than 25,000 athletes on the last Sunday of October. Among them will be over 14,000 marathon runners which is significantly more than in 2023. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. Entries are still accepted at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

Parts of the men’s elite field were announced today. The women’s field will be released next month. For years Elisha Rotich has produced strong marathon races. His best race so far was at the 2021 Paris Marathon. The Kenyan won the race with 2:04:21 which remains his personal best and still stands as the Paris course record. On the route through the French capital, which is not considered very fast, he ran another strong race this spring. Rotich was third with 2:06:53 in April. Together with Eric Kiptanui (PB: 2:05:47), whose participation had been announced earlier, he looks to be the strongest Kenyan in the elite field of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. However a surprise might come from Benard Biwott, a Kenyan debutant who has run a 59:47 half marathon this year.

Besides Herpasa Negasa Ethiopia will have four more runners with personal bests of sub 2:07 on the start line: Lencho Tesfaye (2:06:18), Aychew Bantie (2:06:23), Boki Asefa (2:06:46) and Birhan Nebebew (2:06:52) could attack their PBs on the fast Frankfurt course where Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang clocked the 2:03:42 course record in 2011.

“We expect a very open race since there is no major favorite. It is difficult to predict what might be possible with regard to times. But the field surely has the potential for a surprise,“ said Race Direktor Jo Schindler.

While Spain’s Abdelaziz Merzougui is the fastest European runner on the start list with a personal best of 2:08:00 there is a novelty in the history of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon: Married couple Jake Robertson and Magdalyne Masai will be among the elite runners. New Zealand’s Robertson has a personal best of 2:08:26 and could achieve a strong finishing position while his Kenyan wife has a PB of 2:22:16 and will be among the favorites in Frankfurt.

Global medalists Gebreslase and Gebresilase head Sydney Marathon fields

Ethiopia’s 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and her compatriot Leul Gebresilase, the 2023 world bronze medalist, feature in the fields for the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (15).

Gebreslase is a two-time world marathon medalist, having added silver in Budapest to the gold she gained in Oregon, while she won the Berlin Marathon in 2021 and finished third in the New York and Tokyo marathons in 2022.

The 29-year-old ran her PB of 2:18:11 in Oregon and 2:18:18 in Tokyo, and earlier this year she clocked 2:21:19 to finish third in Hamburg.

But Gebreslase is set to face a strong challenge, with four other sub-2:20 runners on the entry list. Her compatriot Tadu Teshome is fastest of them all with the PB of 2:17:36 she set when finishing fourth in Valencia in 2022. In 2023 she raced three marathons, finishing fifth in Chicago, sixth in Shanghai and eighth in London. In June she set a 10km PB of 31:13 in Durban.

Joining them are Ethiopia’s Ruti Aga and Buzunesh Getachew, plus Kenya’s Judith Jeptum Korir, who secured world silver behind Gebreslase in Oregon two years ago.

Aga won the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 and more recently finished second in Dubai in January in a PB-equaling 2:18:09 and first in Daegu in 2:21:07. Getachew set her PB of 2:19:27 when winning in Frankfurt last October, while Korir’s career best is the 2:18:20 she ran in Oregon. She went on to finish fourth in the London Marathon that year in 2:18:43 but did not finish when racing the Boston Marathon earlier this year.

Also entered are Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot, Sharon Chelimo and Beatrice Cheptoo, plus Japan’s Mao Uesugi.

Gebresilase is the fastest in the men’s field, thanks to the PB of 2:04:02 he set in Dubai in 2018. Since then he has become a global medallist, getting bronze in Budapest in 2023, the same year in which he finished fourth in the London Marathon. He ran 1:01:24 for the half marathon in Ras Al Khaimah in February but did not finish on his return to London in April.

In Sydney he faces three other sub-2:05 runners and another seven who have dipped under 2:08. His compatriot Chalu Deso is a strong contender, as he ran 2:04:53 in Valencia in 2020 and more recently won the Tokyo Marathon in March last year in 2:05:22. He raced the Paris Marathon in April, clocking 2:07:39.

Ethiopia’s Haftu Teklu ran 2:04:42 when finishing fifth in Berlin last year, while Kenya’s Brimin Kipkorir Misoi won the Frankfurt Marathon last October in a PB of 2:04:53.

They will line up alongside Ethiopia’s Tafese Delelegn and Tadu Abate, who finished third in Berlin in 2022, plus Kenya’s Laban Korir, Reuben Kerio and Michael Mugo Githae, and Japan’s Hidekazu Hijikata and Tetsuya Yoroizaka.

Korir and Gebreslase to lock horns at Sydney Marathon

The 2022 World Marathon silver medalist Judith Korir is set to rekindle her rivalry with the 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia at the Sydney Marathon on September 15.

During their last meeting at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Gebreslase edged out Korir by nine seconds to claim the title in a course-record time of 2:18:11. Israel’s Lonah Chemtai was third in 2:20:18.

Race organizers have touted this year’s lineup as one of the most competitive as athletes eye glory in one of Australia’s most iconic cities.

“The calibre of athletes participating this year is a testament to Sydney’s allure as a world-class marathon destination. We’re excited to witness these extraordinary competitors race through our new course, against the backdrop of our iconic city,” said Sydney Marathon race director, Wayne Larden.

Korir, 28, takes a wealth of experience and success to Sydney, having won the 2022 Paris Marathon (2:19:48), 2021 Abu Dhabi Marathon (2:22:30) and Lugano Half Marathon (1:06:25), 2019 Venice Marathon (2:29:21) and the 2020 Izmir Marathon (2:33:59).

She finished sixth at last year’s London Marathon (2:20:41) and settled for fourth at the 2022 edition (2:18:43).

Gebreslase is a world marathon silver medalist from last year’s championships in Budapest, Hungary, in a time of 2:24:34, behind compatriot Amane Beriso (2:24:23) and ahead of Morocco’s Fatima Ezzahra (2:25:17).

The Ethiopian has victories from the 2021 Berlin Marathon (2:20:09) and the 2021 Bahrain Half Marathon (1:05:36).

At last year’s Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, she finished second in 1:05:51. She has finished third at the Hamburg Marathon (2:21:19), the 2022 Tokyo Marathon (2:18:18), 2022 New York Marathon (2:23:39) and the 2022 Liboa Half Marathon (1:07:11).

Korir will be joined by a formidable group of compatriots including Beatrice Cheptoo, the 2022 Istanbul Marathon champion, Rotterdam Marathon runner-up Viola Kibiwot and Sharon Chelimo, third place finisher at last year’s Frankfurt Marathon.

Two-time Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimin Kipkorir spearheads the Kenyan charge in the men's race.

Kipkorir bagged the 2022 Frankfurt title in 2:06:11 and defended it last year in a personal best of 2:04:53.

The 35-year-old is a two-time Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon champion — 2017 (2:12:39) and 2019 (2:10:43).

He will be joined by Fukuoka Marathon champion Michael Mugo, 2017 Rotterdam Marathon third-place finisher Laban Korir and three-time Kosice Marathon winner Reuben Kerio.

They will face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase, the 2022 world marathon bronze medalist, Seoul Marathon third-place finisher Haftu Teklu and last year’s Tokyo Marathon champion Deso Gelmisa. 

Masai, Kiptanui spearhead Kenya's charge at Frankfurt Marathon

The 2021 Chicago Marathon second runner-up Eric Kiptanui and Beijing 2008 Olympics 10,000m bronze medalist Linet Masai will spearhead Kenya’s charge at the Frankfurt Marathon set for October 27.

Race organizers anticipate a turnout of 12,000 participants, with expectations of a thrilling, fast-paced competition.

“We are looking forward to another high-class race that will certainly hold one or two surprises. After having the fastest race in the event's history last year in terms of the two winning times added together, we are excited to see what will be possible on October 27,” said race director Jo Schindler.

During last year’s race, Brimin Kipkorir sealed the title in 2:04:53 ahead of Ethiopian duo of Mulugeta Asefa (2:06:47) and Guye Idemo (2:07:44).

In the women’s elite race, Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Getachew (2:19:27) beat Winfred Moseti (2:20:55) and Sharon Chelimo (2:22:07) to the title.

Kiptanui enters the race with an impressive resume, including half marathon victories in Berlin (58:42) and Lisbon (1:00:05) in 2018, and Barcelona in 2019 (1:01:04).

In the marathon, he boasts a title from the Xiamen and Tuscany Marathon in 2021 (2:05:47-PB). He also secured runner-up finishes in Dubai 2020 (2:06:17) and Chicago 2021 (2:06:17).

His other accolades include a victory at the 2017 Madrid 10k Road race (27:34).

His main rival will be Ethiopia’s Herpasa Negasa, who finished second at the 2022 Seoul Marathon.

Negasa holds a personal best of 2:03:40 set during the 2019 Dubai Marathon where he placed second behind compatriot Getaneh Molla (2:03:34).

The Ethiopian’s accolades include runner-up finishes at the Hengshui 2018 Marathon (2:09:14), Lyon 2015 (2:10:17) and a second runner-up finish at the 2018 Warszawa Marathon (2:11:46).

In the women’s race, Masai will face a stern challenge from 2022 Berlin Marathon third-place finisher Tigist Abayechew.

Masai brings a rich trophy cabinet that includes bronze from the Beijing 2008 Games in the 10,000m (30:26.50) and a world title in the same event from the 2009 Berlin World Championships (30:51:24).

The 34-year-old is also a gold medalist from the 2007 World Cross Country Championships and a three-time silver medalist from Amman 2009, Bydgoszcz 2010 and Punta Umbria 2011.

In the full marathon, Masai holds a lifetime best of 2:23:46 from the 2018 Amsterdam Marathon where she finished fifth.

Abayechew holds a best of 2:18:03 she set during the Berlin Marathon, where she placed third behind Rosemary Wanjiru (2:18:00) and Tigst Assefa (2:15:37).

Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 27th October: Negasa, Kiptanui, Masai and Abayechew look for new momentum in Frankfurt

A group of athletes who have achieved world-class results in different events in the past want to use the fast course of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon to give their careers new momentum. Among the runners targeting fast times is Ethoipia’s Herpasa Negasa, who became the eighth fastest ever at the Dubai Marathon 2019, and Kenya’s 2009 World 10,000m Champion Linet Masai.

The 41st edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 27th October is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. Organisers expect a total of over 25,000 athletes for their event, among them around 12,000 marathon runners. 

“We look forward to another high-class race which could well produce surprises. After achieving the fastest combined winning time in the history of our race last year we are eager to see what will be possible on 27th October,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.

Herpasa Negasa achieved a breakthrough at the Dubai Marathon 2019, when the Ethiopian was runner-up in a world-class time of 2:03:40. Two years ago he clocked another very good time in Seoul where he ran 2:04:49 and placed second once more. Now the 30 year-old intends to reach those levels again. Herpasa Negasa belongs to what currently is probably the world’s strongest marathon training group. Coached by Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa Olympic Champion Tamirat Tola and current Boston winner Sisay Lemma are among his training partners.

Eric Kiptanui will be among Herpasa Negasa’s strongest challengers. As a newcomer he immediately established himself as one of the fastest half marathon runners of 2018. First the Kenyan took the Lisbon Half Marathon, then he ran a 58:42 course record in Berlin that still stands today. During a Corona lockdown he won one of very few high-class marathon races in Siena, Italy, in 2021 with 2:05:47. Despite fine results in Chicago 2021 (3rd) and Boston 2022 (5th) he could not yet improve his time from Siena. After a weaker year in 2023 the 34 year-old now wants to bounce back in Frankfurt.

For Linet Masai the Mainova Frankfurt-Marathon could be one of her last chances and may be the best one to achieve a late breakthrough in the marathon. The 34 year-old is the 10,000m World Champion from 2009 and won an Olympic bronze medal over this distance in 2008.

From 2009 to 2011 she took three silver medals in a row in the highly competitive World Cross Country Championships. However after a fine 2:23:46 debut in Amsterdam in 2018 (without the benefit of the new shoe technology) she was not able to build on this performance. In Frankfurt Linet Masai wants to finally break her PB. 

Tigist Abayechew will be among the favourites on 27th October. Two years ago the 30 year-old Ethiopian smashed her personal best and improved to 2:18:03 for third place. After a break due to an injury she came back with a ninth place in Tokyo this March. Tigist Abayechew will now want to cross the line first in Frankfurt’s indoor finish at the Festhalle.

Soi eyes Bogota Half Marathon course record on Sunday

The 2008 Olympic 5,000m bronze medalist Edwin Soi will on Sunday attempt Geoffrey Mutai's Bogota Half Marathon 1:02:20 course record.

Mutai, a two-time New York Marathon champion set the time at the 2011 edition followed by Ethiopia’s Deriba Mergat (1:04:49) and Wilson Chebet (1:04:57).

Soi believes the competitive field and favorable weather conditions make the record within reach.

“I believe the competitive field assembled this year and favorable weather make it possible to go for the record,” Soi remarked.

He will be joined by compatriots Philemon Kiplimo, the 2022 Prague Half Marathon champion, Cali 10km Road race champion Ezra Tanui and Yangzhou Half Marathon champion Edward Koonyo.

The Kenyans will face stiff competition from Venice Marathon champion Solomon Mutai of Uganda, 2023 Belgrade Marathon champion Chakib Lachgar of Spain and 2022 Hannover Marathon champion Hendrik Pfeiffer of Germany.

“I did not do so well in the race last year. With my preparations this year, I am confident about running well and achieving my target,” added Soi.

He clocked 1:04:55 for third place, trailing Tanui (1:04:50) and Morocco’s Omar Chitachen (1:03:50).

“I have run here three times, winning once. I want to add another win this year,” he revealed.

Soi claimed his first title in 2022 in 1:05:27, ahead of Uganda’s Andrew Kwemoi (1:05:29) and Daniel Muindi (1:06:45).

Napoli City Half Marathon champion Angela Tanui will seek to reclaim her crown in the women's edition.

“I was not 100 per cent ready last year. My preparations before the race were not good either,” Tanui noted.

Tanui placed fifth in 1:16:31 in a race she was bested by Daisy Kimeli (1:15:12), Ethiopia’s Anchialem Haymanot (1:15:34) and Colombia’s Angie Orjuela (1:15:40).

She won the title in 2022 in 1:13:29 with Veronicah Wanjiru (1:15:26) and Ecuador’s Rosa Chacha (1:16:43) trailing.

“I am ready this year. My preparations have been good,” she said.

Tanui will face defending champion Kimeli and the Ethiopian duo of Aberu Ayana, the Lisbon Marathon champion, and Frankfurt Marathon champion Buzunesh Getachew.

Spectacular finish in Mainz, both course records smashed

A new fast German half marathon has emerged in the city of Mainz at the picturesque river Rhine. On Sunday morningboth course records were smashed at the Gutenberg Half Marathon Mainz and the men’s fight for victory ended in a spectacular and very rare dead race.

Debutant Benson Mutiso and fellow-Kenyan Victor Kimutai stormed over the finish line in 61:01 and neither with photos nor with video material it was possible to separate them. While both athletes shared victory Collins Kipkemboi followed in third with 61:38 and made it an all Kenyan podium.  

There was more success for Kenyan debutants in Mainz: Josephine Naukot won the race in 69:26 while Brenda Jepchirchir took second with 69:45. Both ran their first half marathon. Belgium’s Hanne Verbruggen took a fine third place with a personal best of 70:15. Once again she was inside the qualifying standard for the European Championships in Rome next month. 

The new focus on the half marathon distance turned out to be an immediate success for the event that was the former Mainz Marathon. The fine winning times propelled the race up into second place in the current German rankings of half marathons. Only the Berlin Half Marathon produced faster times in 2023 and 2024. “We have achieved the times we targeted and we showed that it is possible to run fast in Mainz. And there is quite some room for improvement,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler, who is also the Director of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Including races at shorter distances organisers registered around 11,000 entries for the Gutenberg Half Marathon Mainz.

Benson Mutiso and Victor Kimutai took the lead after the 12k point and it was then mainly Mutiso who ran in the lead. However shortly before the finish Kimutai moved ahead. But Mutiso reacted and once they reached the line they were right next to each other. “I thought I was ahead,“ said Benson Mutiso, who had run a marathon before (2:09:21 in Munich last year), but never competed in a half marathon. “My next goal is to run a fast marathon in October. I would like to go to Frankfurt for that.“ Victor Kimutai as well thought that he was first over the line. “We know each other well since we train together in one group in Iten. So it is fine for us to share victory,“ said Kimutai who ran a personal best in Mainz with 61:01. Behind Collins Kipkemboi (61:38) fellow-Kenyan Patrick Kiprop took fourth place and also ran inside 62:00 minutes with 61:55.

In the women’s race Josephine Naukot already took the lead around the 13k mark. With 69:26 she was then well ahead of fellow-Kenyan Brenda Jepchirchir (69:45). “This was the best race of my career and my greatest victory,“ said Josephine Naukot. “My next goal is to run a time between 65 and 66 minutes. I would like to come back to Mainz next year and further improve the course record. I am not thinking about the marathon yet.“

Belgium’s Hanne Verbruggen showed another fine performance, improving her recent PB of 70:23 to 70:15. “I hoped to run sub 70:00, but I was on my own for large parts of the race. That made it difficult. My big goal is to break the Belgium half marathon record of 68:58“, said Hanne Verbruggen, who is now number three of the Belgium all-time list. Next month she will compete in the European Championships’ half marathon and then in the Olympic Games’ marathon in August. 

The top five women in Mainz all clocked personal bests in good weather conditions. Ethiopians Lelise Wakweya and Hadas Shimuye finished in fourth and fifth places with 71:17 and 72:39 respectively. “My impression after this race is that there is huge potential in Mainz. We can build on this,“ said Elite Race Coordinator Philipp Kopp.

World-class fields will go for course records and target Olympic qualification in Sunday’s Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Kenya’s defending champion and course record holder Bernard Koech, who tied his personal best with 2:04:09 a year ago, is back while Gotytom Gebreslase, the World Champion from 2022, is the favorite in the women’s race.

The Ethiopian, who has a PB of 2:18:18, wants to secure the third spot for the Paris Olympic race in Hamburg. Fellow-Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw holds Hamburg’s course record of 2:17:23. Late entry Nienke Brinkman will also try to qualify for Paris. The Dutch runner is the bronze medalist from the European Championships in Munich in 2022.

Organizers of Germany’s biggest and fastest spring marathon have registered a record total of 38,210 runners. Among them are 15,000 athletes who will compete in the classic event. “If all goes well on Sunday and the pacemakers run a bit more even and slightly faster we could see similar results to last year. I am curious to see if Gotytom Gebreslase manages to qualify for Paris and if she is able to break the course record. But even a sub 2:20 time is something special since we only have one so far,“ said chief organizer Frank Thaleiser, who introduced an additional bonus of 20,000 Euros for the course records. All runners – men and women – who finish inside the course records share this amount. If there would be one man and three women who clock faster times than the previous records they would each receive 5,000 Euros. “This way we want to encourage the runners in a leading group to go for a fast time after the last pacemaker has dropped out,“ explained Frank Thaleiser.

“Training was going well and compared to last year in Hamburg I have reached the same level. So if the weather conditions are fine then a fast time is possible,“ said Bernard Koech. It is highly unlikely that he could still be selected for the Olympic marathon, but he said: “I will give everything and if they should select me then I will be ready.“ Bernard Koech is one of seven runners in the race who feature personal bests of sub 2:05:00. While Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla is the fastest on the start list with 2:03:34 he has not reached such times in recent years.

Brimin Misoi and Philemon Kiplimo are tipped to be among the strongest challengers for defending champion Koech. Both have done very well on German roads in the past. Misoi has won the Frankfurt Marathon twice in a row. When he defended his title last autumn the Kenyan improved to 2:04:53 despite windy and rainy conditions. He now intends to run faster in Hamburg. “I ran the Paris Marathon at the beginning of April. But because of breathing problems I dropped out and then decided to go for Hamburg,“ said Misoi. It was in Berlin last year, where Philemon Kiplimo improved to 2:04:56 and finished eighth in a very competitive race. “German roads are good for me, so I am looking forward to Sunday. I want to run with the leading group and improve my time,“ said Kiplimo, who has a superb half marathon PB of 58:11.

“We are planning a pace in the region of the course record, may be slightly faster. Additionally there will be a really big group of probably 25 athletes who will target the 2:08:10 Olympic qualifying time“, said Hamburg’s Elite Race Coordinator Jurrie van der Velden of Jos Hermens’ Global management. “We are not quite sure yet, but the women’s leading group might run a pace somewhere between 2:16 and 2:18. There is a group as well which targets Olympic qualification, running sub 2:26:50 pace.“

“It is my goal to qualify for the Olympics on Sunday,“ said Gotytom Gebreslase, who surprisingly won her debut marathon in Berlin in 2021, then went on to become World Champion in the following year and took the silver medal at last year’s global championships in Budapest. Jurrie van der Velden explained that the Ethiopian federation usually selects the two fastest runners during the qualifying window and then picks the athlete who performed best at major championships as long as that athlete confirms good form. When Gebreselase ran the Nagoya Marathon in March she did not finish. “I got stomach problems during the race and dropped out after 35k. Then I trained well and decided to run in Hamburg. I am in good form now and want to run sub 2:18 here. Perhaps I can attack the course record. I would think such a performance should be enough to get selected,“ said Gotytom Gebreslase.

Nienke Brinkman joined Hamburg’s elite field at short notice. The European bronze medalist from 2022 has still not achieved the qualifying time for the Olympics. She ran her PB of 2:22:51 in 2022, but that was outside the qualifying period. A year ago Brinkman clocked a fine 2:24:58 in Boston, but this course is not record eligible and results do not count as qualifying times. However it is a far easier task for Brinkman to achieve qualification in Hamburg than for Gebreslase. Reaching the qualifying standard of 2:26:50 should be enough for the former Durch record holder.

A debutant could well be in the mix for at least a place on the podium: Irine Cheptai is the World Cross Country Champion from 2017. “I started preparing for my marathon debut in January and training went very well. I think I will go with the second group on Sunday,“ said the Kenyan who has already run a very fast and promising half marathon time of 64:53.

Among a number of German runners Katharina Steinruck is probably the one who could produce the national highlight in Hamburg. She improved to 2:24:56 this winter and now hopes to break the family record: It was exactly 25 years ago when Katrin Dörre-Heinig, the bronze medalist of the 1988 Olympic marathon in Seoul, won the Hamburg Marathon with 2:24:35. For many years this remained the German marathon record. “It is my aim to break my Mum’s record and it would be great if I could do it in Hamburg,“ said Steinruck.

Defending champions return to defend Belfast Marathon crowns

A RECORD 5,500 runners are expected to take to the streets of Belfast on Sunday, May 5 for the sold-out Moy Park Belfast City Marathon, making it the biggest to date.

The 2023 winners, Morocco’s Mohamed Oumaarir and Kenyan Shewaye Wolde Woldemeskel, will be there to defend their respective male and female titles.

Oumaarir, who ran a time of 2:22:54 for the overall victory 12 months ago, will lead a strong contingent of international and local athletes. These include former Great Britain and Wales steeplechase representative Adam Bowden, who finished runner-up in last year’s event.

There are three interesting entries of east African origin. Former Ethiopian and now Bahrain national Aweke Ayalew finished 11th in the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships, recording a world-class time of 61 minutes and 19 seconds. More lately he clocked 2:07:12 in the 2019 Frankfurt Marathon, making him the fastest man in the field.

The Kenyan duo of Mathew Kemboi and Moses Kilmulwo also boast impressive credentials. Kemboi finished fourth in last November’s Istanbul Marathon in a time of 2:13:48, while Tuyange was 15th at the Barcelona Marathon last month in a time of 2:12:43.

Also taking to the field, will be GB’s Michael Young, who recently ran a time of 2:24:33 in December at the Valencia Marathon; William Strangeway, who finished third in the Murcia Costa Calida Marathon last year, recording a time of 2:20:32; and Welshman, Dan Nash, who won the Great Welsh Marathon on St Patrick’s Day in a time of 2:27.19.

Favorite for the first local prize is Annadale Strider Eskander Turki, who won the 2023 Moy Park Belfast City Half Marathon in a time of 1:09:10.

Dark horse here is the comeback kid Ed McGinley, who returned to the sport after an absence of nine years to win the Larne 10 Miles just over a week ago.

Conor Gallagher of St Malachy’s should not be ignored either given he was runner-up in the 2022 Belfast Marathon.

Turning to the women’s race, it will be Woldemeskel’s third time competing in Belfast, while Morocco’s Hanane Qallouj is no stranger to the Emerald Isle either, finishing sixth at the Dublin Marathon last October in a time of 2:37:20.

Others to watch out for are Qallouj’s compatriot Laila Aziza Selsouli, who finished eighth in the Marrakesh Half Marathon, and Kenya’s Beatrice Jepkemei, who recently ran 2:30:41 in the Linz Marathon.

North Belfast Harrier Gladys Ganiel heads the home challenge.

This year’s Moy Park Belfast City Marathon runners will be joined by 12,500 relay runners and another 1,200 participants in the 8-Mile Walk, all adding up to making it the biggest mass sport participation event in the north.

Rotich spearheads Kenyan quest at Paris Marathon on Sunday

Kenyan marathoners face a stern test at the Paris Marathon on Sunday as Elisha Rotich spearheads the country's charge.

Rotich, who won the event in 2021 and is currently the course record holder with a time of 2:04:21, returns to the event after a two-year absence.

Rotich won the 2016 Cannes Marathon in France; the 2017 Chuncheon Marathon in South Korea and the 2018 Eindhoven Marathon.

Hillary Kipsambu, who finished third and sixth in the French Capital in 2021 and 2022, will be aiming to go one place better this time round.

Kipsambu, who won the Kosice Marathon in Slovakia in 2019 in 2:09:33,  will fancy his chance of going all the way. 

The 2023 Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimin Kipkorir is also in the mix for the title.

The Kenyan trio will be up against a formidable contingent from Ethiopia including the defending champion Gisealew Ayana.

The Ethiopian will be seeking to become the third person to defend the crown after Britain’s Steve Brace (1989 and 1990) and Kenya’s Paul Lonyangata (2017 and 2018).

Ayalew will have Mekuant Ayenew and Bazezew Asmare – all with PBs under 2:05:00 for the company in what is expected to be a competitive race

Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi will aim to challenge the African dominance while France’s Freddy Guimard will hope to impress on home turf. In the women's category, Vivian Cheruiyot lines up as a contender. Her last win was the 2018 London Marathon, where she clocked 2:18:31.

The 2016 Olympic 5000m champion will bounce back to marathon running at the age of 39 as her last marathon dates back to 2019.

Cheruiyot will have her work cut out against a strong Ethiopian field. Buzunesh Getachew, winner in Frankfurt last October, will lead the Ethiopian team and will be joined by Rahma Tusa, Etagena Woldu, Hailu Haven and Gelete Burka, winner of the 2019 Paris Marathon. More than 54,000 runners are set to take part in the event.

Following tradition, participants will set off from the Champs-Élysées to cover the gruelling distance of 26.2 miles, passing through some of the most beautiful Parisian spots.

The route will include the Place de la Concorde, the Opéra Garnier, the Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Hippodrome d’Auteuil to name a few.

Defending champ Gisealew Ayana and Vivian Cheruiyot lead fields for Paris Marathon

More than 54,000 runners are set to gather at the starting line of the 47th Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris this Sunday (April 7).

Following tradition, participants will set off from the Champs-Élysées to cover the gruelling distance of 26.2 miles, passing through some of the most beautiful Parisian spots.

The route will include the Place de la Concorde, the Opéra Garnier, the Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Hippodrome d’Auteuil to name a few.

The marathon has attracted a strong field of elite athletes who will be aiming to clinch the title and walk away with the prize money, which stood at €50,000 last year.

Gisealew Ayana, a 21-year-old Ethiopian who secured victory last year, will lead the men’s race as he will aim for a double that only Britain’s Steve Brace (1989 and 1990) and Kenya’s Paul Lonyangata (2017 and 2018) have achieved.

Ayana will face tough competition as he goes up against two previous Paris winners, 2022 champion Deso Gelmisa and Elisha Rotich, winner of the 2021 Pairs Marathon and event record holder (2:04:21). Rotich, 33, will return to the marathon after a two-year absence.

A strong contingent of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners will join the trio of recent winners in leading the field including Hilary Kipsambu (2021 bronze medallist), Brimin Kipkorir (2023 Frankfurt Marathon winner), Mekuant Ayenew and Bazezew Asmare – all with PBs under 2:05:00.

Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi will aim to challenge the African dominance while France’s Freddy Guimard will hope to impress on home turf.

In a change from previous years, the elite women will start on the same line as the men rather than having a separate start. The adjustment provides the women with an earlier start time, aimed at allowing them to take advantage of favourable conditions to achieve faster times.

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot lines up as a favourite. Her last win was the 2018 London Marathon where she clocked 2:18:31.

The 2016 Olympic 5000m champion will bounce back to marathon running at the age of 39 as her last marathon dates back to 2019.

Cheruiyot will have her work cut out against her rivals as there is a strong Ethiopian field. Buzunesh Getachew, winner in Frankfurt last October, will lead the Ethiopian team as she will be joined by Rahma Tusa, Etagena Woldu, Hailu Haven and Gelete Burka, winner of the 2019 Paris Marathon.

There is more than just the marathon on offer this weekend as ASICS, partner of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, is hosting a three-day Festival of Running event.

The unique festival will feature elite 5km and 10km speed races on Friday evening, with Eilish McColgan being one of the athletes set to run. A pre-marathon shake-out run is scheduled for Saturday.

Kenyans Leonard Langat and Vibian Chepkirui will return to defend their Vienna Marathon titles

Kenyans Leonard Langat and Vibian Chepkirui will return to defend their Vienna Marathon titles, while there are three men on the start list who have broken 2:06 and five women featuring personal bests of sub 2:25.

With regard to these personal records it will be strongest line-up in the history of the Vienna City Marathon which will see its 39th edition next week. Including races at shorter distances more than 31,000 runners have registered for Austria’s biggest running event, a World Athletics Marathon Label Road Race.

Kifle had a fine year in 2021: He was third in Enschede, 14th in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo and then 6th in Valencia, where he ran his PB. With his personal record the Eritrean is a little faster than Vienna’s course record of 2:05:41 by Ethiopia’s Getu Feluke in 2014. 

Abdi Fufa of Ethiopia is the third athlete in Vienna’s line-up who has run sub 2:06. A year ago he was second in Siena’s elite only race with 2:05:57.

It looks a tough task for Leonard Langat to defend his title in the Austrian capital. The Kenyan improved to 2:09:25 in Vienna last September. But with this PB he is only the eighth fastest athlete on the start list.  

Unfortunately there were a number of cancellations from elite runners recently. Among them are Mekuant Ayenew and fellow-Ethiopian Derara Hurisa, who had originally crossed the line first in last year’s Vienna City Marathon. However he then had to be disqualified for wearing illegal racing shoes and Leonard Langat became the winner. 

The fastest runner on the women’s start list is Caroline Kilel, who ran 2:22:34 when she took the Frankfurt Marathon back in 2013. While the Kenyan did not reach these sort of times recently there are other athletes who showed promising last year.

Defending champion Vibian Chepkirui may only be number five on the list with her PB of 2:24:29. However she did run this time last September in Vienna in very warm conditions.

Afterwards the Kenyan said that she could have been at least two minutes faster in more suitable conditions. Chepkirui could be capable of attacking the course record of fellow-Kenyan Nancy Kiprop who was the winner in 2019 with 2:22:12. 

Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok and Ethiopia’s Sifan Melaku are number two and three on Vienna’s start list with PBs of 2:23:29 and 2:23:49 respectively.

Sheila Jerotich of Kenya is a contender for victory as well. She took the Istanbul Marathon in November, improving to 2:24:15.

“We are very happy that we were able to surpass the mark of 30,000 entries. Compared to our comeback race in September 2021 this is a nice step forward. We feel the enthusiasm of the runners,“  said Kathrin Widu, the General Manager of the Vienna City Marathon.

There has never been an Eritrean winner in the history of the Vienna City Marathon which had its first edition back in 1984. This may change next week though since the two fastest entrants are from this country: Goitom Kifle and Oqbe Kibrom feature personal bests of 2:05:28 and 2:05:53 respectively.

Former World Cross Country Champion Irine Cheptai runs marathon debut in Hamburg, Katharina Steinruck chases special record time

Irine Cheptai, Kenya’s World Cross Country Champion from 2017, will run her debut marathon in Hamburg on 28th April. This was announced by the organisers of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, who released some of the top women’s contenders and presented Germany’s Katharina Steinruck during a press conference.

While Steinruck will chase a special family record on the fast Hamburg course it is Winfridah Moseti who heads the current women’s start list. The Kenyan has a personal best of 2:20:55. 14,000 runners are expected to compete in Germany’s biggest spring marathon on 28th April. Online registration for the race is still possible at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de

Irine Cheptai has been very successful on the track as well before she focussed more on road running. In 2021 she was sixth in the Olympic 10,000 m final in Tokyo and a year later the Kenyan won the 10,000 m silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Then she showed very promising half marathon races, culminating in a 64:53 PB in Valencia where she was second. With this time Cheptai was the fourth fastest half marathoner in the world in 2023. 

Hamburg has seen great debut marathons in the past. In 2013 it was Eliud Kipchoge who won with a course record of 2:05:30. Two years ago Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw ran an unofficial world debut record of 2:17:23 which still stands as Hamburg’s course record. There are two more debutants on the women’s start list who could do very well on 28th April: Kenya’s Nelly Jepchumba has a half marathon PB of 67:00 while Roselida Jepketer of Bahrain has run 68:40 for the half. 

Winfridah Moseti ran a huge personal best of 2:20:55 when she was runner-up in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon. While the Kenyan will want to build on this performance Frankfurt’s third place finisher will be among her rivals in Hamburg: Sharon Chelimo improved to 2:22:07 last October. Ethiopia’s Kidusan Alema and Canada’s record holder Natasha Wodak, who have personal records of 2:22:28 and 2:23:12 respectively, will also run their spring marathon in Hamburg.

Katharina Steinruck will be very much in the national focus when she hopes to break her mother’s family record. It was exactly 25 years ago when Katrin Dörre-Heinig, the bronze medallist of the 1988 Olympic marathon in Seoul, won the Hamburg Marathon with 2:24:35. For many years this was the German marathon record. “It is my aim to break my Mum’s record and it would be great if I could do it in Hamburg,“ said 34 year-old Katharina Steinruck, who is coached by her mother and improved to 2:24:56 in Osaka at the end of January. “Katha“ Steinruck returns to the race for the first time since 10 years and has good memories.

In 2013 and in 2014 she clocked personal bests of 2:34:20 and 2:33:56 in Hamburg as a young athlete. Ten years later running around ten minutes faster will be the goal. And there could not be a more fitting race than the Haspa Marathon Hamburg to break the family record. 

Irine Cheptai to make marathon debut at the 2024 Haspa Marathon

The 2017 World Cross-country champion Irine Cheptai will make her full marathon debut at the 38th edition of the Haspa Marathon in Hamburg.

Reigning Copenhagen Half Marathon champion Irine Cheptai will make her full marathon debut at the 38th edition of the Haspa Marathon on Sunday, April 28.

The 2017 World Cross-country champion has competed on all surfaces from the track to cross-country and she will finally make her debut in the 42km distance in April.

Cheptai finished second at the 2023 Valencia Half Marathon and third at the Annual Charity Run in Saudi Arabia.

The Commonwealth 10,000m silver medalist opened her season with an eighth-place finish at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja and she now gears up for the 42km distance where she hopes to impress. Other notable debutants at the event will be Nelly Jepchumba and Roselida Jepketer.

Meanwhile, Winfridah Moseti and Sharon Chelimo from Kenya headline the field. Moseti took second place at the 2023 Frankfurt Marathon with a time of 2:20:55, while Chelimo also put in a strong performance with a time of 2:22:07.

The Ethiopian charge will be led by Kidusan Alema while Canada’s Natasha Wodak (Canadian record holder with a personal best of 02:23:12) will also be in the mix seeking top honors. Margaret Wangari from Kenya with a time of 2:23:52 also seeks to spoil the party.

Portuguese runner Jessica Augusto (02:24:25) will also be at the start again, having won the marathon back in 2017.

“We are excited to see what awaits us at the 38th Haspa Marathon Hamburg. Hamburg has proven to be a springboard for great runners in the past, as we saw for example with Eliud Kipchoge, who once made his debut in Hamburg. So it remains exciting to see which new talents will prove themselves on the track this year,” race organizers said.

Magdalyne Masai eyeing a great start to her season at Sevilla Marathon

Magdalyne Masai has been confirmed for the Sevilla Marathon where she hopes to start her season on a good note.

The 2023 Vienna City Marathon champion Magdalyne Masai has been confirmed for the Sevilla Marathon scheduled for Sunday February 18.

Masai will be opening her season at the event with the hope of stunning her opponents and continuing her hot streak from last season.

Last season, the Kenyan was on fire, winning the Vienna Marathon and also finishing third at the Roma Ostia Half Marathon. However, she stumbled at the Frankfurt Marathon where she finished ninth but she will be out to prove her marathon prowess once again.

She will be up against Namibian long-distance runner Helalia Johannes, who is aged 43 but still has it in her legs to run well.

The Namibian only competed once last season, at the Daegu International Marathon that saw her finish 10th and she will seek to start her season on a good note this year.

Azmera Gebru, an Ethiopian runner, has also been confirmed for the event and she will be out to give Masai a run for her money.

Gebru returns to competitive running after a mixed two years and she has her fingers crossed to run well this season.

Last year, she was in action at the Zurich Marathon in Barcelona which saw her finish sixth while in 2022, she was confirmed for the Prague Marathon where she failed to finish the race.

The race organizers of the event are still announcing the elite athletes of the event which will promise fireworks owing to the women who have already been announced.

Lindsay Flanagan And Her Younger Sister Kaylee Are Both Racing The Marathon Trials

In the past 20 months, veteran marathoner Lindsay Flanagan has cut her personal best by 2 minutes, twice. She won the 2022 Gold Coast Marathon in Australia in a course record of 2:24:43. In August, her 2:27:47 run placed her ninth overall, and first American, at the World Championships marathon in Budapest.

But one of her proudest moments came in the wee hours of December 3. Huddled over her phone in Adelaide, Australia—where she’d traveled for a few months to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Marathon Trials—Flanagan repeatedly refreshed the results of the California International Marathon.

Not long after 4 a.m. Lindsay’s time, her younger sister, Kaylee, crossed the finish line in 2:35:24—a nearly five-minute PR and her first Trials qualifying time. “I did not sleep at all that night,” Lindsay said. As both Kaylee’s sibling and her coach, “I was so invested.”

After promising high school running careers in Illinois, both Flanagans (no relation to Shalane) ran at the University of Washington, overlapping for a year. Now, they live across the street from each other in Boulder, Colorado, where they typically share miles at least once if not twice daily. Kaylee cheered Lindsay on in Budapest; afterward, they vacationed in Croatia.

They’ve spent the past few months, uncharacteristically, half a world apart, though Kaylee frequently pops by Lindsay’s house to water plants and make sure the pipes don’t freeze. But they’re reuniting in Florida, lining up together at the Trials.

The Flanagans aren’t the only siblings competing in Orlando on February 3; the field also includes brother and sister Kaylee and Austin Bogina and twins Isabel and Monica Hebner. But they’re unique in also being athlete and coach—Lindsay has guided Kaylee’s training for about two years.

And in her third Trials, Lindsay stands out as a top, if under-the-radar, pick to make the U.S. Team.

The Asics-sponsored runner, 33, does most of her workouts alone. Her coach is remote, and she has no training group or partner capturing evidence for Instagram. Yet out of the limelight, Lindsay has spent nearly a decade preparing for a moment just like this one. “Every workout, every season, every race cycle has been meticulously chosen,” Kaylee, 28, said of her sister. “Trust me, she will be one to watch out for in Orlando.”

A steady ascent

As close as they are, the two sisters forged different paths from college to the Trials. Lindsay made her marathon debut the January after graduating. At the 2015 Houston Marathon, she ran 2:33:12, good for ninth place and a slot in the 2016 Trials. On a hot day in Los Angeles the following February, she paused to vomit around the 21-mile mark, then finished 14th in 2:39:42.

Through 20-some marathons since—so many she’s lost count—she’s gradually, if quietly, established herself. Her next breakthrough came at the 2016 Frankfurt Marathon, where she finished fourth in 2:29:28. She notched top-10 finishes in Boston and Chicago in 2019, and headed into the 2020 Trials ranked 12th. That’s exactly where she finished, running 2:32:05.

Post-pandemic, she was coaching herself but seeking mentorship. Her agent connected her with Benita Willis, a four-time Olympian for Australia and gold medalist at the 2004 World Cross Country Championships. After an hour-long conversation, Lindsay realized she wanted Willis to fully take the reins of her training.

The pair became fast friends, and under Willis’s guidance, Lindsay is now even faster. She first lowered her personal best to 2:26:54 in April 2022 at the Paris Marathon. Next, Willis suggested Lindsay make her first Australian trip to run Gold Coast in July.

The race would give the pair the chance to meet in person for the first time, and with her victory, Lindsay had an opportunity that her coach, a 2:22:36 marathoner, had missed. “I ran big races, but I never won a marathon or broke a course record,” Willis said. “I wanted Lindsay to have that sort of experience well before the Olympic Trials.”

Defending champion Brimin Misoi and Buzunesh Gudeta take titles at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Brimin Misoi and Buzunesh Gudeta were crowned champions of what proved to be the highest quality race in the history of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon in terms of combined winning times. Misoi of Kenya retained the men’s title in the 40th anniversary event, crossing the finish line in the Festhalle in 2:04:53, the second fastest performance ever in the race’s history. He became the first man since compatriot Wilson Kipsang won two consecutive Mainova Frankfurt Marathon titles, beginning in 2010. The Ethiopians Mulugeta Uma and Guye Adola finished second and third in 2:06:47 and 2:0:7:44 respectively.

 In windy and wet conditions, Buzunesh Gudeta achieved the second fastest women’s time ever in the event with 2:19:27, missing the course record by 17 seconds. Winfridah Moseti made a big improvement on her own personal best to finish second in 2:20:55 while her fellow Kenyan Sharon Arusho also ran her fastest ever marathon for third place in 2:22:07. Five women broke 2:25, making this one of the best women’s races in terms of strength in depth in the race’s history. The first four all set personal bests.

 The combined winning times of the women’s and men’s champions came to 4:24:20, the fastest aggregate time ever in Frankfurt. The 40th anniversary race had 13,258 participants from 115 countries. Taking into account events held in conjunction with the marathon, the organizers had a total of 24,293 participants.

 “I’m very happy with the anniversary edition and take my hat off to our top athletes. Given the conditions, they’ve produced excellent times,” said race director Jo Schindler, while the new co-ordinator of the elite field, Philipp Kopp, taking over the role from his late father Christoph, reflected on a successful start: “Despite the difficult conditions, we’ve seen top level, international performances. That says a lot for Frankfurt and its fast course. From 35 kilometres it wasn’t easy with a headwind and rain and the road surface was also very slippery.”

 Men’s Race

 Brimin Misoi retained his title as Frankfurt champion: “It’s a great feeling to have won here for a second time. From 35 kilometres it was tough,” commented the men’s winner. Last year’s champion triumphed with a personal best of 2:04:53. He was looking to make a decisive move soon after going through halfway in 61:38. When he increased the pace at 23 kilometres, only the Ethiopian Guye Adola was able to go with him. Five kilometres later, Misoi had also dropped him.

 For a long time Brimin Misoi was on schedule to break the course record of 2:03:42, set by Wilson Kipsang in 2011. But in the final five kilometres the weather conditions with wind and increasing rain took their toll. The Kenyan’s victory was, however, never in doubt. By the time he was on the red carpet in the Festhalle, running towards the finish line, he had a lead of almost two minutes.

 Simon Boch of Germany finished as the best European though also with disappointment. In the first half he was on course to run under the Olympic qualifying time of 2:08:10. He went through halfway in 63:59 but by 30 kilometres he had lost time and was then clearly slowing down. “Unfortunately I never felt really good in the race. Our group had broken up by the 30k mark,” explained Boch, who finished ninth in 2:12:32.

 Women’s Race 

Bizunesh Gudeta ran close to the course record with an outstanding performance in the event’s 40th edition. The 26-year-old took a big slice off her personal best with 2:19:27, an improvement of more than three minutes. “I never thought that I could produce a performance like that. I’ve never been so happy.”

Over the second half she increasingly took charge of a tight leading group. Kenya’s Winfridah Moseti was able to stay with her until 25 kilometres. Gudeta then attacked again and from there was unchallenged in the lead and for a time also had her sights on the course record. Ultimately she finished 17 seconds outside Valary Aiyabei’s performance of 2019. That didn’t quell the celebrations inside the Festhalle. Gudeta led the way by dancing, once across the finish line, still wearing one shoe while waving with the other in her hand. There were also strong performances behind her: Winfridah Moseti finished second in 2:20:55 and fellow Kenyans Sharon Arusho and Viola Jelegat Kibiwott took third and fourth in 2:22:07 and 2:22:57 respectively and all setting personal bests.

For much of the race Miriam Dattke of Germany was running the kind of tempo which would bring her a finishing time of 2:24 to 2:25. She went through halfway in 72:11 and was still on that schedule at 30 kilometres. She then slowed markedly over the last 10km but struggled on to finish eleventh in 2:28:12. As with her compatriot Simon Boch among the men, Dattke finished as the leading European woman.

RESULTS

 Results, Men:

 1 Brimin Misoi KEN 2:04:53

2 Mulugeta Uma ETH 2:06:47

3 Guye Adola ETH 2:07:44

4 Albert Kangogo KEN 2:08:10

5 Dominic Letting KEN 2:08:23

6 Isaac Lelei KEN 2:09:32

7 Frederick Kibii KEN 2:09:33

8 Edwin Tuitoek KEN 2:12:16

9 Simon Boch GER 2:12:32

10 Soufiyan Bouqantar MAR 2:12:44

11 Mario Bauernfeind AUT 2:12:49

12 Tom Anderson GBR 2:12:52

 Women:

1 Buzunesh Gudeta ETH 2:19:27

2 Winfridah Moseti KEN 2:20:55

3 Sharon Arusho KEN 2:22:07

4 Viola Kibiwott KEN 2:22:57

5 Agnes Keino KEN 2:23:44

6 Paskalia Jepkogei KEN 2:26:14

7 Visiline Jepkesho KEN 2:26:20

8 Naom Jebet KEN 2:26:48

9 Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:27:19

10 Medina Armino ETH 2:27:54

11 Miriam Dattke GER 2:28:12

12 Viktoriia Kaliuzhna UKR 2:28:23

13 Matea Parlov Kostro CRO 2:28:37

Frankfurt Marathon this Sunday, Kenyans Brimin Misoi and Selly Kaptich top the field

After a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon returned in 2022 with a vengeance. The 2023 edition is happening this Sunday and organizers want the men to run sub 2:06 and the women sub 2:18. They have put up an additional $18,000 USD for the top finishers under those benchmarks.

Men

Last year, Kenyans Brimin Misoi and Selly Kaptich won the 39th edition. The 33-year-old Misoi was a surprise victory running a personal best of 2:06:11. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Kaptich, prevailed with 2:23:11. With very warm temperatures of around 20C during the final part of the race, almost all elite runners could no longer keep up their pace and lost a lot of time.

Sunday’s forecast calls for race start to be 8C with a high of 12C, very light rain and a slight breeze.

For 2023, Misoi renews his rivalry with runner-up Samwel Mailu, the latter arriving in Frankfurt in outstanding form. Among the challengers to both Kenyans should be Guye Adola. The Ethiopian has a personal best of 2:03:46 which makes him among the fastest ever lining up for the Frankfurt Marathon.

Simon Boch is the top German toeing the line. He owns a best of 2:09:25, which the 29-year-old set in Lint, Austria in April this year. Swedish 27-year-old Archie Casteel looks to improve upon his Seville performance earlier this year that earned him his personal best of 2:10:25.

Women

A close contest is also expected in the women’s race with five contenders showing personal bests of under 2:23:00. It has been a while, but Visiline Jepkesho, a Kenyan with a 2:21:37 personal best from Paris in 2017 will toe the line. Magdalyne Masai ran 2:24:10 in Wien this year. She owns a best of 2:26:16 from the 2019 running of the Toronto Marathon.

Nine women have run under 2:25, five sub-2:23. Miriam Dattke is slated to be the top German athlete competing on Sunday. She ran 2:26:50 in Seville last year. Thirty-four-year-old British Athlete Stephanie Twell ran the Frankfurt Marathon in 2019 in the time of 2:26:40 which is her personal best. She placed fourth that year.The latest additions to the line-ups are homegrown with Simon Boch joining the men’s field and Miriam Dattke, fourth in the European Championships in the women’s event last year, both among Germany’s top distance performers. They have every intention of making good use of Frankfurt’s historically fast course in seeking qualification for the Olympic Marathon in Paris next year. In April she ran the Wien Austria marathon in the time of 2:27:13.

Matea Parlov Kostro: How she became a Croatian Sports Star

The German roads are much to Matea Parlov Kostro’s liking. Within little more than six months she has celebrated both the biggest success of her career to date and her greatest win. In August 2022 she won the silver medal at the European Championships in Munich which turned her at a stroke into a Croatian Sports Star.

This was the first medal won by a Croatan woman in a running event in almost a century of the European Championships. Then in May this year she enjoyed her biggest victory so far. The athlete from Zagreb won the Hanover Marathon, breaking both the course record and her personal best with 2:25:45. This performance placed the 31-year-old firmly among the very best of the European marathon running elite. Now she will run Sunday’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. 

“I decided to run the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon because it’s a fast race with a high-quality field. I always feel good when I run in Germany, that was another factor in Frankfurt’s favour. Another reason was that I am so looking forward to the spectacular run to the finish line in the Festhalle,” explained Matea Parlov Kostro before Sunday’sMainova Frankfurt Marathon. “My form is better than ever, the performances in training are better than before the European Championships. I have had a slight cold but feel good now.”

"I’m happy that I no longer have to worry about making the Olympic qualifying time, I’ve made sure of my ticket to Paris. But I want to run a personal best so, of course, there’s always some form of pressure to perform.”

Her first sport wasn’t running but handball. “Then one day a sports teacher asked if I wanted to run a 600m race on the track for the school. It meant I didn’t have to go to school that day, so I did it, not that I was bad at my studies, on the contrary.” She finished third off no specific training and her talent was immediately evident. The Croatian’s career was off and running.

At first she ran middle distance but did not have enough speed over 800 and 1500m to make an impression internationally. Her performances over the longer distances were better, however. She ran 9:08.49 for a Croatian record over 3,000m. Road racing offered still more potential and she has concentrated on this more since 2018, making her marathon debut in Berlin in that year with 2:38:05. She had made great strides since then, literally. At the Valencia Marathon in 2020 she emerged from the lockdown of the Corona pandemic to break 2:30 for the first time, running 2:28:52. This ensured Olympic qualification. Competing in the 2021 Olympic, held in Sapporo, she achieved a highly creditable 21st place in extreme heat.

She made big improvement on her shorter distance speed as well in 2022, running a personal best for 10km of 31:54 in Berlin, which stood her in good stead for her eventual silver medal in the marathon at the European Championships later that year. 

This race transformed her life. “Without a medal, you’re a nobody in Croatia, but when you win one, you’re a star overnight,” explained Matea Parlov Kostro. “I don’t earn much more money but am regularly invited to appear on TV programmes and people speak to me on the street and want to take a photo of me, especially after a training run when they’ve seen me.”

What does she think of the stupendous women’s world record by the Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, running 2:11:53 in Berlin? “When I saw the time, I was shocked. I wouldn’t have thought it possible that a woman could run so fast. And she didn’t show any weakness during the race after 30 kilometres, it was astonishing.”

The best Europeans have in the past consistently achieved high finishing places and even won medals at the Olympic Games. Asked if she dreamed of winning an Olympic medal in Paris, Matea Parlov Kostro replied: “Of course, an Olympic medal is the dream. But that’s not realistic, the African women are simply too strong.”

The 40th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt marathon is set for Sunday and the course record of 2:03:42 could go down

When the 30th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon took place in 2011, Wilson Kipsang crowned the anniversary with a magnificent course record of 2:03:42. This performance took the Kenyan to number two in the world all-time lists at the time and was only four seconds outside the world record. Since then, no-one has gone close to threatening the course record. But at the next anniversary on Sunday, 12 years on, given the two years missed because of the Corona lockdown, this course record could at last be broken.

If the weather is favourable for the 40th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, the leading contenders including last year’s champion Brimin Misoi and Vienna Marathon winner Samwel Mailu want to attack this target. The Kenyans know full well that they cannot afford to disregard Guye Adola of Ethiopia, whose personal best of 2:03:46 makes him the fastest man in the field. The women’s race has the makings of a thrilling contest for the title with seven runners who have run between 2:21:00 and 2:24:00. Two from the home contingent will have their sights set on achieving the Olympic qualifying time. Simon Boch and Miriam Dattke have places in the German team for next year’s Olympic Marathon in Paris as their goal.

The event organizers have so far received 23,726 entries from 115 countries. 13,036 of them will run the marathon while there are also races at shorter distances, held in conjunction with the marathon. The race is an Elite Label Road Race, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the sport’s governing body.

The press conference in Frankfurt started with a minute of silence in memory of Christoph Kopp. The Berliner had died after a short illness on 28th April aged 75. Christoph Kopp was the elite race coordinator of the Frankfurt Marathon for two decades and guided the race into world-class - as he had done with the Berlin Marathon before and a number of other events. „In Christoph we have lost a true friend and the man who developed and shaped the elite races of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon so successfully“, sagte Race Direktor Jo Schindler. 

Men’s race preview: Course record could be challenged

Christoph Kopp’s son Philipp has taken over the role of Elite Race Co-ordinator in Frankfurt. Three of strongest contenders in the men’s elite field had already been recruited by his father for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon: Brimin Misoi, Samwel Mailu, both from Kenya and Guye Adola of Ethiopia. The latter had to withdraw from the event a few years ago because of injury so this will be his debut in Frankfurt. “We are working towards a halfway split between 61:50 and 62:00 to give the possibility of a course record,” explained Philipp Kopp.

Samwel Mailu has produced outstanding form recently. He won the Vienna City Marathon in April, breaking the course record with his personal best of 2:05:08. He continued by taking the bronze medal at the World Half Marathon Championships in Riga on October 1, again setting a personal best of 59:19. “The field in Frankfurt is very strong but I think I can run 2:04,” he announced. The celebrations back home in Kenya for his bronze medal at the World Half Marathon Championships have been an added incentive: “The messages of congratulation were simply fantastic.” But that didn’t mean he lost his concentration on the job in hand, he has every intention of being first across the finish line in Frankfurt’s Festhalle on Sunday.

Guye Adola (2:03:46 pb), Brimin Misoi (2:06:11) and the Ethiopian duo of Mulugeta Uma (2:06:07) and Abdi Kebede (2:06:43) will have to be on their best form to prevent Samwel Mailu winning. Adola certainly sounded confident: “I think I can run a very good time. If the pacemakers and other runners run fast, I don’t see any reason why I cannot run 2:03. As for qualifying for the Olympics, there’s not a leading Ethiopian runner who doesn’t have that as their goal – but, ultimately, it depends on the national federation.” Should the 2021 Berlin Marathon winner run in the region of his personal best, he would have a chance of booking his place for the Olympics. Brimin Misoi is also ready for a fast marathon: “I have trained very well and want to beat my personal best.”

The Olympic Games are also the top target for Simon Boch. The leading German male runner has a best of 2:09:25, achieved in winning the Linz title in spring but he needs to run under 2:08:10. “I will either run a high 2:07 or end up on a bench around 35 k,“ said Simon Boch.

Women’s Race: Kenyans are favourites

The compact but high-quality women’s field shows every chance of producing a thrilling contest. “I hope that a big group can stay together for a long time and help each other,” said Philipp Kopp. Among the genuine favourites is Magdalyne Masai of Kenya, who showed plenty of confidence when assessing her prospects: “I have had the best preparation ever for a marathon in my career.” She had more than role model for inspiration in her family. Sister Linet won the 10,000m title at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009 and her brother Moses took the bronze at the same distance in the men’s event.

“I had role models in my family and that gave me confidence. Above all, the performances of my sister because it’s not always easy for a woman in elite level sport. I said to myself, if she can do it, so can I.” Then there was the support from a ten-strong training group. Among them is Rosemary Wanjiru, who won this year’s Tokyo Marathon with an outstanding time of 2:16:28.

Magdalyne Masai, just as her compatriot and Frankfurt rival Visiline Jepkesho, has returned to marathon training and competition this year after maternity leave. “It was hard to come back after having a child,” said Jepkesho, whose youngest of two sons is now two years and three months. “I feel very good and am ready to run in the fastest group,” said the 33-year-old. Her personal best of 2:21:37, set six years ago, makes her the fastest woman in the field. Also in excellent form are two more Kenyans, Agnes Keino and Winfridah Moseti.

A similar form of co-operation may well happen between Miriam Dattke and Matea Parlov Kostro on Sunday. The former, the leading German runner in the field, achieved a surprise fourth place at the European Championships last year. She has a personal best of 2:26:50. Her target in Frankfurt is 2:24. This could secure her a place on the Olympic Marathon team. Parlov Kostro from Croatia, who won a silver medal at the same championships in Munich, improved her best to 2:25:45 with victory at the Hanover Marathon in spring. She is aiming to go through halfway on Sunday in 72:00. “I’m in better form than ever, my performances in training are stronger than before the European Championships,” said Matea Parlov Kostro, who has already achieved Olympic qualification.

Elite runners with personal bests

MEN: 

Guye Adola ETH 2:03:46

Samwel Mailu KEN 2:05:08

Mulugeta Uma ETH 2:06:07

Brimin Misoi KEN 2:06:11

Abdi Kebede ETH 2:06:43

Titus Kipkosgei KEN 2:07:46

Albert Kangogo KEN 2:07:48

Frederick Kibii KEN 2:08:09

Dominic Letting KEN 2:09:16

Simon Boch GER 2:09:25

Yimer Getahun ISR 2:09:27

Bukayaw Malede ISR 2:09:28

Soufiyan Bouqantar MAR 2:09:54

Tesema Moges ISR 2:10:31

Archie Casteel SWE 2:10:49

Tom Anderson GBR 2:12:07

Dominic Kiptarus KEN 2:12:46

Mario Bauernfeind AUT 2:15:34

Thorben Dietz GER 2:19:20

Andreas Vojta AUT 2:19:27

Isaac Lelei KEN Debut

WOMEN:

Visiline Jepkesho KEN 2:21:37

Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:22:16

Buzunesh Gudeta ETH 2:22:38

Paskalia Jepkogei KEN 2:22:47

Meseret Meleka ETH 2:22:52

Agnes Keino KEN 2:23:26

Winfridah Moseti KEN 2:23:38

Naom Jebet KEN 2:24:33

Viola Kibiwott KEN 2:24:54

Sharon Arusho KEN 2:25:20

Matea Parlov Kostro CRO 2:25:45

Medina Armino ETH 2:26:12

Miriam Dattke GER 2:26:50

Viktoriia Kaliuzhna UKR 2:27:05

Tereza Hrochova CZE 2:29:06

Kinsey Middleton CAN 2:29:22

Samwel Mailu sets ambitious goal as he returns to the Frankfurt Marathon

The Kenyan runner finished second on his debut in the German city last year and want to go one better in 2023

Vienna Marathon champion Samwel Mailu has set his target ahead of making a return to the Frankfurt Marathon on October 29.

Mailu, one of the rising talents in the marathon, has already proved that Frankfurt is a good place for him after a brilliant marathon debut last year where he finished second.

During last year’s event, Mailu had originally been entered as a pacemaker but he did not drop out of the race and, despite his role, finished second in 2:07:19.

This year, Mailu triumphed in Vienna with 2:05:08, breaking the men’s course record which had stood for nine years.

“I have a good feeling about returning to Frankfurt. After all, I made my marathon debut there and the organisation is very good. My aim is to improve my personal best and to run under 2:05 in Frankfurt,” Mailu said.

Meanwhile, race director Jo Schindler expressed his excitement at having brought on board Mailu, alongside Matea Parlov Kostro, who has also been entered as the top female athlete. The event will also be marking its 40th anniversary.

“In Matea Parlov Kostro and Samwel Mailu, we’ve succeeded in recruiting two rising stars of the international marathon scene," he added.

"I’m delighted that we are going to have two popular figures running on the start line in Frankfurt.

"After our successful comeback from the COVID-19 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,” Schindler said.

Elite runners prepare for 40th anniversary Frankfurt Marathon

Guye Adola and defending champion Brimin Misoi join field – Visiline Jepkesho will run too.

Guye Adola has joined the starting line-up for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday, October 29. The Ethiopian of proven world-class for the event, winner of the Berlin Marathon in 2021 when he left the great Kenenisa Bekele trailing, has a best of 2:03:46 to his credit.

Among his rivals in Frankfurt will be the defending champion Brimin Misoi of Kenya and the latter’s compatriot Samwel Mailu who finished runner-up last year. The fastest woman on the current start list is also a Kenyan, Visiline Jepkesho, with a personal best of 2:21:37.

“I’m expecting a first-class race at our jubilee edition,” said the race director Jo Schindler. Germany’s oldest city marathon will celebrate its 40th edition on Sunday, October 29.

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is on course to maintain its reputation for strong performances among the elite and high numbers for the mass field with around 25,000 runners expected to take part on the last Sunday in October. The event holds an Elite Road Race Label, awarded by World Athletics, the sport’s governing body. Entries are still available at www.frankfurt-marathon.com

Guye Adola is the fastest man in the field of the current entries. His personal best of 2:03:46 was all the more impressive since he ran it on his debut at the distance in Berlin in 2017. Increasing his prestige still further, he finished second to the great Eliud Kipchoge and had led the great Kenyan until almost 40 kilometers. The greatest triumph of his career – so far – has also been in Berlin when he won the event two years ago in 2:05:45, a performance of special merit in warm conditions and leaving another all-time great, Kenenisa Bekele, well behind. A spate of injuries has prevented Adola from achieving his obvious aim of improving his personal best and adding to his success.

Brimin Misoi won the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon last year in impressive style, running a personal best of 2:06:11 which took him just over a minute clear of Samwel Mailu on the race to the finish in the Festhalle. The latter, whose entry for this year in Frankfurt had already been confirmed, has shown excellent current form. On April 23 he won the Vienna Marathon in a personal best and course record of 2:05:08. This places him tenth on times for the marathon rankings for 2023.

One of the leading contenders for the women’s title also has a victory in Vienna to her credit: Magdalyne Masai of Kenya ran 2:24:12 to win the title in April but her personal best of 2:22:16 comes from winning in Toronto in 2019. The fastest woman in the field in the current line-up is Visiline Jepkesho, also from Kenya, though her best of 2:21:37 goes back almost a decade to a fourth place in Paris in 2014.

Both will have to keep a sharp eye on Buzunesh Gudeta. The Ethiopian finished fourth in Barcelona in 2:22:38 in March. Another athlete to note is the European silver medalist in the marathon, Matea Parlov Kostro, whose participation has already been announced. The runner from Croatia set a personal best with victory in Hanover in spring with 2:25:45, continuing her upward trend.

Brimin Misoi faces stern test Frankfurt Marathon title defence

Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimim Misoi faces a stern test as he seeks to defend his crown in the German city on October 29.

Misoi clocked to win the event 2:06:11 last year and is relishing the challenge of retaining the crown at the end of next month. “I have been training for the past two months I know the field is quite competitive but I am confident I can defend my title," said Misoi.

Misoi clocked to win the event 2:06:11 last year and is relishing the challenge of retaining the crown at the end of next month.

“I have been training for the past two months I know the field is quite competitive but I am confident I can defend my title," said Misoi.

Both will have to keep a sharp eye on Buzunesh Gudeta. The Ethiopian finished fourth in Barcelona in 2:22:38 in March.

Another athlete to note is the European silver medallist in the marathon, Matea Parlov Kostro. The Croat has a personal best 2:25:45 clocked while winning the Hanover Marathon in March.

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.”

Brimin Misoi determined to defend Nairobi Marathon title

Nairobi City Marathon 42km champion Brimin Misoi will be back on the streets of the Kenyan capital to attempt to defend the title he won in 2022.

The second edition of Africa's richest marathon in terms of winners' prize money will be held on Sunday and will be majorly run on the Expressway.

Misoi, the winner of the 2022 Frankfurt Marathon is full of confidence and believes he has what it takes to defend his title. He said he is currently enjoying top shape and has undergone intensive training.

"I feel great and I believe in my training. I trust my abilities and I believe no one will beat me to the title. Nairobi's altitude is a bit lower compared to Kapkitony, Elgeyo Marakwet County where I train thus making it easier for me to win," he said.

The double Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon winner clocked two hours and 8:03 minutes to win the race in 2022 after breaking off from the leading pack at the 34km mark. 

The 35-year-old had a poor run in Japan at the Tokyo Marathon in March, where he finished 13th in 2:07:36. 

"My target is to defend my title and lower the time I set last year. I target to run sub-2:06:11, which is my PB set in Germany last year,"  Misoi added.

This year's edition has attracted more than 13,000 athletes with the organisers targeting 15,000.

On his quest for title defence, Misoi will be up against a group of elite athletes who have registered for the race.

Among the names to watch out for during the race include Edwin Kemboi with a personal best of 2:06:52 and who finished fourth in this year’s Seoul Marathon in March.

Joshua Kipsang (2:08:09), Simon Kipkosgei (2:07:07), and Robert Kipkemboi (2:07:09) are among the fastest athletes who have also registered for the 42km race.

An Ethiopian quartet led by Haile Mekonnen with a PB of 2:14:13, Maseret Yitbarek (2:11:34), Desta Tafa (2:11:13) and Haile Assefa will also be in the chase for the Sh3.5million winner's purse. 

In the women’s 42km race, Lydia Simiyu (2:25:44), Sheila Chepkoech (2:27:04) and Sharon Cheimo (2:33:03) are among the fastest Kenyans who will battle it out in the women’s 42km race.

Defending champion Agnes Barsosio who clocked 2:24:45 in last year's event pulled out of Sunday's race after picking a hamstring injury in training.

Kenyan Samwel Mailu sets ambitious goal as he returns to the Frankfurt Marathon

The Kenyan runner finished second on his debut in the German city last year and want to go one better in 2023.

Vienna Marathon champion Samwel Mailu has set his target ahead of making a return to the Frankfurt Marathon on October 29.

Mailu, one of the rising talents in the marathon, has already proved that Frankfurt is a good place for him after a brilliant marathon debut last year where he finished second.

During last year’s event, Mailu had originally been entered as a pacemaker but he did not drop out of the race and, despite his role, finished second in 2:07:19.

This year, Mailu triumphed in Vienna with 2:05:08, breaking the men’s course record which had stood for nine years.

“I have a good feeling about returning to Frankfurt. After all, I made my marathon debut there and the organisation is very good. My aim is to improve my personal best and to run under 2:05 in Frankfurt,” Mailu said.

Meanwhile, race director Jo Schindler expressed his excitement at having brought on board Mailu, alongside Matea Parlov Kostro, who has also been entered as the top female athlete. The event will also be marking its 40th anniversary.

“In Matea Parlov Kostro and Samwel Mailu, we’ve succeeded in recruiting two rising stars of the international marathon scene," he added.

"I’m delighted that we are going to have two popular figures running on the start line in Frankfurt.

"After our successful comeback from the COVID-19 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,” Schindler said.

2023 Vienna City Marathon features promising field for jubilee race

Vienna features promising mix for jubilee race

The men’s elite race of the Vienna City Marathon promises to present an interesting mix of athletes with different time goals on 23rd April. While there will be a group of Africans who aim to break the long standing 2:05:41 course record for a number of other runners the qualifying time for the World Championships this summer in Budapest is a major goal. 2:09:40 is the standard for the global championships and Norway’s Sondre Moen will be among those targeting this mark in Vienna.

Organizers of Austria’s biggest one-day sporting spectacle expect to register up to 35,000 entries for their event, including races at shorter distances staged parallel to the marathon. With such a figure the 40th edition of the Vienna City Marathon (VCM) will almost reach the dimensions of pre-pandemic years. Entry for the VCM, which is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and the only one in Austria that features such a high standard, is still possible at: www.vienna-marathon.com.

There are hopes that the jubilee edition will be crowned by a course record. It was back in 2014 when Ethiopia’s Getu Feleke clocked 2:05:41. An athlete who could be capable of such a performance is Samwel Mailu, who ran his debut in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon although he was only entered into the race as a pacemaker. However the Kenyan carried on after leading for 30k and managed a fine 2:07:19 debut. He was runner-up in warm weather conditions.

While Mailu will be running in Vienna for the first time fellow-Kenyan Charles Ndiema returns to the Vienna City Marathon. He finished fourth here a year ago when he clocked his PB of 2:08:12. At least two other athletes are expected to join a leading group which targets the course record: Kenya’s Elvis Cheboi and Abe Gashahun of Ethiopia have run very fast half marathons of 59:14 and 59:46 respectively. While Cheboi will run his marathon debut in Vienna Gashahun will be eager to improve his marathon PB of 2:09:25. 

After a period with injuries and below par performances Sondre Moen intends to bounce back at the Vienna City Marathon. The main goal for the Norwegian record holder, who ran a European record of 2:05:48 when sensationally winning the Fukuoka Marathon in 2017, will be to qualify for the World Championships at the Vienna City Marathon. “I hope for a positive race in Vienna – physically as well as mentally“, said the 32 year-old Scandinavian. “I plan to run a controlled race with a negative split. Last year was one to forget because of injuries. Now I want to have a good race experience again.“ 

Another non-African runner who opted for the Vienna City Marathon to achieve the 2:09:40 qualifying time for the World Championships is Ser-Od Bat-Ochir from Mongolia. While the 41 year-old multiple national record holder ran the Mongolian marathon record of 2:08:50 back in 2014 in Fukuoka he broke 2:10 again in Otsu, Japan, two years ago where he ran 2:09:26. Ser-Od Bat-Ochir, who lives in Japan with his family and is sponsored by the Shin Nihon Jusetsu company, has already participated at ten World Championships.

He now wants to improve this record by qualifying for his eleventh start. Last year he finished 26th in Eugene. Ser-Od Bat-Ochir also has been an Olympic marathon runner five times, first competing at the Games in Athens in 2004. „I opted for Vienna because the race is known for producing fast times and the level of the elite field will suit me,“ said the Mongolian.

Andreas Vojta could be among others who are expected to join Sondre Moen and Ser-Od Bat-Ochir in the chase for the World Championships’ qualifying time. There are high hopes in Vienna that the 33 year-old will establish himself as a top Austrian marathon runner on 23rd April. “I want to be 100 percent ready when I will at the starting line. And I am looking for a time of 2:10,“ said Andreas Vojta.

The former middle distance runner, who competed in the 1,500 m at the London 2012 Olympics and at two outdoor World Championships, has an eye on the 2:09:40 standard as well. While he finished last year’s Vienna City Marathon in 2:23:21 after running as a pacemaker this will be his proper elite marathon debut.

Vienna City Marathon set for April 23 2023

The men’s elite race of the Vienna City Marathon promises to present an interesting mix of athletes with different time goals on 23rd April. While there will be a group of Africans who aim to break the long standing 2:05:41 course record for a number of other runners the qualifying time for the World Championships this summer in Budapest is a major goal. 2:09:40 is the standard for the global championships and Norway’s Sondre Moen will be among those targeting this mark in Vienna.

Organizers of Austria’s biggest one-day sporting spectacle expect to register up to 35,000 entries for their event, including races at shorter distances staged parallel to the marathon. With such a figure the 40th edition of the Vienna City Marathon (VCM) will almost reach the dimensions of pre-pandemic years. Entry for the VCM, which is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and the only one in Austria that features such a high standard, is still possible at: www.vienna-marathon.com

There are hopes that the jubilee edition will be crowned by a course record. It was back in 2014 when Ethiopia’s Getu Feleke clocked 2:05:41. An athlete who could be capable of such a performance is Samwel Mailu, who ran his debut in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon although he was only entered into the race as a pacemaker. However the Kenyan carried on after leading for 30k and managed a fine 2:07:19 debut. He was runner-up in warm weather conditions. While Mailu will be running in Vienna for the first time fellow-Kenyan Charles Ndiema returns to the Vienna City Marathon. He finished fourth here a year ago when he clocked his PB of 2:08:12. At least two other athletes are expected to join a leading group which targets the course record: Kenya’s Elvis Cheboi and Abe Gashahun of Ethiopia have run very fast half marathons of 59:14 and 59:46 respectively. While Cheboi will run his marathon debut in Vienna Gashahun will be eager to improve his marathon PB of 2:09:25.

After a period with injuries and below par performances Sondre Moen intends to bounce back at the Vienna City Marathon. The main goal for the Norwegian record holder, who ran a European record of 2:05:48 when sensationally winning the Fukuoka Marathon in 2017, will be to qualify for the World Championships at the Vienna City Marathon. “I hope for a positive race in Vienna - physically as well as mentally“, said the 32 year-old Scandinavian. “I plan to run a controlled race with a negative split. Last year was one to forget because of injuries. Now I want to have a good race experience again.“

Another non-African runner who opted for the Vienna City Marathon to achieve the 2:09:40 qualifying time for the World Championships is Ser-Od Bat-Ochir from Mongolia. While the 41 year-old multiple national record holder ran the Mongolian marathon record of 2:08:50 back in 2014 in Fukuoka he broke 2:10 again in Otsu, Japan, two years ago where he ran 2:09:26. Ser-Od Bat-Ochir, who lives in Japan with his family and is sponsored by the Shin Nihon Jusetsu company, has already participated at ten World Championships. He now wants to improve this record by qualifying for his eleventh start. Last year he finished 26th in Eugene. Ser-Od Bat-Ochir also has been an Olympic marathon runner five times, first competing at the Games in Athens in 2004. „I opted for Vienna because the race is known for producing fast times and the level of the elite field will suit me,“ said the Mongolian.

Andreas Vojta could be among others who are expected to join Sondre Moen and Ser-Od Bat-Ochir in the chase for the World Championships’ qualifying time. There are high hopes in Vienna that the 33 year-old will establish himself as a top Austrian marathon runner on 23rd April. “I want to be 100 percent ready when I will at the starting line. And I am looking for a time of 2:10,“ said Andreas Vojta. The former middle distance runner, who competed in the 1,500 m at the London 2012 Olympics and at two outdoor World Championships, has an eye on the 2:09:40 standard as well. While he finished last year’s Vienna City Marathon in 2:23:21 after running as a pacemaker this will be his proper elite marathon debut.

Dubai Marathon promises fast times from leading Ethiopians

World Athletics Gold Label race takes place on Sunday in the United Arab Emirates

The Dubai Marathon returns to the sporting calendar on Sunday (Feb 12) with strong line-ups and a course that starts and finishes from Expo City Dubai for the first time.

The World Athletics Gold Label sees a mix of experienced international marathon runners with raw talent keen to make a mark in the early years of their careers.

Women’s line-up

Ethiopian elites dominate the entry list in the women’s competition with Ruti Aga and compatriots Gutemi Shone and Gelete Burka all targeting the biggest marathon in the Middle East on February 12.

Twenty-nine-year-old Aga is the athlete with the fastest personal best in the field having clocked 2:18:34 when finishing second in the Berlin Marathon in 2018. Last year, the Ethiopian – who won the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 – claimed fourth in Chicago and will certainly be one to watch.

But while Aga, with three Marathon Majors medals to her name, has an impressive pedigree, her compatriot Shone knows exactly what to expect in Dubai having finished second last time she competed in the UAE in January 2020 – the last time the Dubai Marathon was staged before the pandemic.

That runner-up spot behind champion Worknesh Degefa was achieved with a personal best of 2:20:11 and the 31-year-old, who finished fifth last year in Seoul, will be looking to use that ‘local knowledge’ to go one place better on the podium on the race’s return to the sporting calendar.

Also returning to the Middle East with experience of running in the Gulf is 37-year-old Gelete Burka. In 2018, Burka enjoyed a successful year starting off with sixth place and a personal best in Dubai (2:20:45) before winning the Ottawa Marathon in Canada and closing the year with third place and a podium finish in Abu Dhabi.

A hugely talented runner, in 2019 Burka added victory in the Paris Marathon and third place in Chicago to an impressive running CV that also includes World Championship medals and a 5000m top five finish at the London Olympics in 2012.

“Over the years we’ve enjoyed some breath-taking performances from marathon debut makers as well as experienced campaigners,” said Dubai Marathon event director Peter Connerton. “Athletes know that with the world-class infrastructure and benign weather conditions in Dubai, they can run a personal best and gain international recognition.”

Elite men’s field

As in the women’s race, it is Ethiopia that dominates the men’s elite field with a clutch of international champions set to fight it out for the title.

While Tsegaye Mekonnen, the 2014 Dubai Marathon champion, boasts the field’s personal best time of 2:04:32, he will face a number of talented and experienced rivals including 2022 Rome and Linz Marathon winner Fikre Bekele, former Rotterdam Marathon champion Abera Kuma and Gebretsadik Abraha, a winner in Marrakech, Prague, Guangzhou and, most recently, in Ljubljana.

And they face a challenging new 42.195km route that will take them from the expanse of Expo City Dubai out on to some of the city’s most modern highways, past Dubai Investments Park and Jumeirah Golf Estates, before returning to finish in front of the iconic Wasl Dome.

Still just 24, Fikre Bekele – known as Fikre Tefera until a few years ago – has competed in just six international marathons during his career, winning five and finishing fourth in the other. While his first two wins came in 2018 in Vadodara and Bilbao, the following year he was the surprise winner of the Frankfurt Marathon where he outkicked his rivals with 300m to go.

Bekele returned to action after the pandemic in 2022 with another two impressive victories winning in Rome (2:06:48) before securing his personal best of 2:06:13 in Linz, Austria – on both occasions he smashed the course records.

Like Bekele, Abraha comes to Dubai full of confidence as his most recent race was probably his best ever. In October he won the Ljubljana Marathon in Slovenia in a time of 2:06:09, finally improving a personal best he had set a decade earlier. Last year saw him run three marathons, winning two of them with that triumph in Ljubljana following on from victory in Lens in France.

Abera Kuma is another of the many Ethiopian world-class athletes who have made their marathon debuts at the Dubai Marathon. In 2014 he produced a fine performance in a top field and finished 10th in 2:09:53. He ran his second marathon in Berlin, where he improved by almost four minutes, taking third place in 2:05:56, which remains his second fastest time at the distance.

His big marathon victory came in 2015 in Rotterdam, a city where he also clocked his personal best of 2:05:50 three years later, finishing in second place just six seconds behind the winner.

Kenyan Double thanks to Brimin Misoi and Selly Kaptich, Hendrik Pfeiffer is German star with seventh place in Frankfurt Heatwave

The Kenyan duo of Brimin Misoi and Selly Kaptich triumphed at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday, defying unusually high temperatures. The heatwave put a brake on what might have been a crop of personal bests on the traditionally fast course but one record was set: temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius towards the end of the elite race made this the warmest Frankfurt Marathon in 33 years.

While the surprise winner of the men’s title, the 33-year-old Brimin Misoi, overcame the tough conditions to run a personal best of 2:06:11, his equally mature compatriot, the 37-year-old Selly Kaptich, confirmed her status as one of the pre-race favourites. Hendrik Pfeiffer raised the home fans’ spirits by finishing seventh in 2:11:28, not quite achieving his intended goal of breaking 2:10 but a highly creditable performance, given the conditions. The men’s champion Brimin Misoi clearly slowed in the last 10 kilometres as did Kaptich and Pfeiffer and almost all of the elite finishers.

After a two-year interruption because of the Corona Pandemic, the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon returned in impressive style with a festival of running in front of thousands of appreciative fans. Taking into account events held in conjunction, 20,551 runners were entered. 11,708 took part in the marathon, confirming its position as Germany’s second biggest marathon. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an Elite Label Road Race of World Athletics, the international athletics federation.

“We’ve succeeded in staging a wonderful comeback to Frankfurt’s streets and the Festhalle. We had to overcome many challenges and are very happy about today,” said Jo Schindler, race director of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. “The athletes had good conditions at the start. Past the half marathon mark they were going well, then it became tough, keeping going in such sunshine. Respect and hats off to every finisher. It was a good result but the race had potential for even more.”

Men’s Race

Temperatures were hardly ideal for fast times, nonetheless, the top three men finishers each set personal bests. A big group stayed together, running on a pace which would bring the leaders across the line in around 2:06. Shortly after 25 kilometres, the scenario was transformed as the Kenyans Brimin Misoi and Samwel Mailu seized the initiative.

Their rivals failed to muster a reply and suddenly a finishing time of 2:04seems possible. But the rising temperatures forced Misoi to slacken his pace from kilometre 37 although he remained unchallenged for the win as he was cheered to the roof of the Festhalle in 2:06:11. “I expected to win. My form was good. The course is outstanding, I am sure I can run faster here,” he said. His previous personal best was 2:08:41, set in May this year at altitude in Nairobi, which is always a tough event. Misoi showed that he is a true competitor by taking over two-and-a-half minutes off that time.

Samwel Mailu was a distant second but deserved the applause and was right to celebrate a brilliant marathon debut in 2:07:19. This was achieved after completing his original role as a pacemaker for Misoi and the rest of the leading group to outstanding effect. The organisers had agreed on the eve of the race to his request that he could race to the finish, once his pacing duties were done. The Ethiopian Derese Ulfata also produced a solid performance to finish third in 2:07:30, also a personal best.

The home fans also had good reason to celebrate the success of Hendrik Pfeiffer. In a controlled effort, the German finished a creditable seventh in 2:11:28, not quite the sub-2:10 he had wanted but his second fastest time ever, nonetheless. “I’m mega-happy. It was a great result and rounds off a great year for me,” said Pfeiffer, who at the European Championships in Munich in August finished 24th, helping Germany to win the silver medal in the team competition.

The women’s race

The women were on course for a sub 2:20 result and a course record until late in the race. Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei clocked the current record of 2:19:10 three years ago and this remains the only sub 2:20 result in the history of the event. Selly Kaptich, who was the fastest runner on the start list with a PB of 2:21:06, ran right behind the three pacemakers right from the start. They reached half way in 69:40 and at this stage Ethiopians Atalel Anmut Dargie and Yoshi Chekole still managed to hold on to the group. A bit further behind a second group with six runners followed in a promising split time of 70:34. Among these runners was Helah Kiprop, Kenya’s marathon silver medallist from the World Championships in 2015. 

However just a few kilometers later in the race the picture changed decisively. Dargie was the first one who could not hold the pace and when the former track runner Kaptich increased the pace further at 25k (1:22:27) Chekole dropped back as well. Kaptich covered the following 5k section in a very fast 16:18 and her 30k split time of 1:38:45 then indicated that a sub 2:19 finish might be possible. But all of a sudden the Kenyan leader was in trouble as well. In the warm conditions she slowed considerably. Kaptich was not in danger of being caught because she was well ahead by over two minutes and the women behind her also slowed as well. But the course record was soon out of reach and a time of sub 2:20 became unrealistic as well. 

With time of 2:23:11 Selly Kaptich ran the third fastest marathon time of her career. Behind her Helah Kiprop had moved up into second place and then finished in 2:24:40 with fellow-Kenyan Jackline Chepngeno taking third with 2:25:14. “It was a great day for me. The atmosphere was superb and I think I could break the course record if I could come back next year and if weather conditions would be cooler,“ said Selly Kaptich. 

Results

Men:

1. Brimin Misoi KEN 2:06:11

2. Samwel Mailu KEN 2:07:19

3. Deresa Ulfata ETH 2:07:30

4. Balew Yihunie Derseh ETH 2:09:21

5. Martin Kosgey KEN 2:10:22

6. Bonface Kiplimo KEN 2:11:08

7. Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:11:28

8. Stephen Mugambi KEN 2:11:34 

9. Merhawi Ghebreslasie ERI 2:12:34

10. Justino da Silva BRA 2:12:41

Women:

1. Selly Kaptich KEN 2:23:11

2. Helah Kiprop KEN 2:24:40

3. Jackline Chepngeno KEN 2:25:14

4. Sofia Yaremchuk ITA 2:25:36

5. Caroline Jepchirchir KEN 2:27:58

6. Sardana Trofimova KGZ 2:28:50

7. Meseret Alemu ETH 2:29:21

8. Martha Akeno KEN 2:36:33

9. Rebecca Lonedo ITA 2:39:54

10. Corinna Coenning GER 2:40:48

Misoi and Kaptich take Frankfurt Marathon titles

Brimin Kipkorir Misoi and Selly Chepyego Kaptich achieved a Kenyan double at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, on Sunday (30).

Both athletes made a break around 25km into their races on a warm and sunny morning, Misoi going on to win the men’s event in a PB of 2:06:11 and 2014 World Half Marathon Championships bronze medallist Kaptich holding on to take the women’s title – her first marathon win – in 2:23:11.

Misoi wasn’t considered one of the pre-race favourites but he ran a well-judged race to triumph by more than a minute ahead of pacemaker Samwel Nyamai Mailu, who carried on to complete the full 26.2 miles in 2:07:19 on his debut at the distance.

Kaptich, meanwhile, had been the fastest athlete on the women’s start list and while she struggled in the latter stages and ultimately missed her goal of breaking the 2:19:10 course record, she managed to maintain her advantage and won by almost a minute and a half ahead of Helah Kiprop (2:24:40).

Misoi formed part of the leading men’s group that followed pacemakers through 10km in 29:52 and 15km in 44:40, with half way reached in 1:02:58. Misoi then put in a surge and a series of sub-2:55 kilometres saw him break away from his rivals. He was on sub-2:05 pace as he reached 30km in 1:28:44 behind Mailu and clearly felt he had more to give as he moved past the pacemaker a short while later.

Misoi went through 35km in 1:43:33 and although he wasn’t able to maintain that pace, he clocked 1:59:12 for 40km and then reached the finish in 2:06:11 for a PB and the fifth fastest winning time in Frankfurt.

Although his pace also slowed as the temperatures rose, Misoi’s compatriot Mailu felt good enough to finish the race after doing his pacemaking duties to 30km and ran 2:07:19 for the runner up spot, while Ethiopia’s Derese Geleta was third in 2:07:30.Hendrik Pfeiffer was the top German finisher, running 2:11:28 for seventh place.

In the women’s race, Kaptich followed the male pacemakers through 10km in 33:14 and 15km in 49:38, joined by Ethiopian duo Atalel Anmut and Yeshi Kalayu Chekole. The trio were still together as the halfway mark was passed in 1:09:40.

Around 5km later, Kaptich was ready to make her move. Having dropped Anmut, Kaptich and Chekole went through 25km in 1:22:27, 19 seconds ahead and on course record pace. Kaptich then kicked again and left Chekole behind, picking up the pace to pass the 30km mark in 1:38:45, more than a minute ahead. At this point, a chase group led by Kenya’s 2015 world silver medallist Kiprop was working hard to close the gap (1:40:56).

By 35km it was Kiprop in second place, as she passed that mark in 1:58:15, two minutes behind Kaptich (1:56:12), their compatriot Jackline Chepngeno a further 10 seconds back.

The podium places seemed decided and while Kiprop began to reel Kaptich in, passing 40km in 2:16:28 behind Kaptich’s 2:14:42, she couldn’t catch her.

Kaptich went on to win in 2:23:11 to Kiprop’s 2:24:40 and Chepngeno’s 2:25:14.

Italy’s Sofiia Yaremchuk was fourth in a PB of 2:25:36 and Corinna Coenning was the top German athlete, finishing 10th in 2:40:48.

Kenyan Selly Kaptich will headline Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday

Selly Kaptich of Kenya will stand on the start line for the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon as the fastest woman in the field. Her best of 2:21:09 could well be under threat on Sunday morning, given the reputation for Frankfurt’s fast course. Impressive though a reading of her career highlights is, including an early sign of talent with a gold medal for 3,000m at the World Junior Championships 21 years ago, what catches the eye is her ability to adapt to a different running and life culture in general, marked by her becoming a member of a Japanese corporate running club almost 20 years ago.

The 36-year-old has run eight marathons in her career so far with the personal best achieved in finishing third in Berlin three years ago. The year of 2019 was indeed a watershed for Kaptich as she firstly ran 2:23:53 to finish fourth in Paris, one of the prime spring marathons on the calendar, before running her best time to-date later in the year. But how far did the move to join the Kyudenko Corporate team in Japan prove of lasting value? “It was in 2006 when I received an invitation out of nowhere to go to Japan and become part of this team. They had noticed my results on the road and cross country. Culturally it was very different, both the change in culture and training.”

Kaptich was gradually allowed to revert to her preferred form of long runs, roaming over the roads and cross country. She reflected that her Japanese colleagues tended to mark out a stretch of road and run up and down it 20 times. But her talent was recognised from the start and both sides learned to compromise: “I learned a lot, both as a runner and as a person. I joined the others in doing office work, learned Japanese, then did some of my training “Kenyan style” but joined the others for speedwork on the track. I also wore a kimono sometimes.”

The partnership lasted 10 years, in which time Selly Kaptich became one of the stars of the Kyudenko team. The company headquarters is in the city of Fukuoka, which until 2021 hosted one of the world’s most historic and prestigious marathons. She believes the experience of adapting to such a different environment was beneficial all-round: “I think it strengthened me personally, coping with something so different at that stage in my life was not easy but I had to cope and became stronger for it.”

As for her prospects in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday, the 36-year-old Kenyan is confident she can improve on her best of 2:21:06: “Definitely, I’ve got a good chance of a PB and I’m ready for it.” Capable as she has shown herself to be in her long career, Selly Kaptich has retained her competitive hunger.

Frankfurt hopes to come back with a bang as Selly Kaptich eyes the course record

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is the last major German city marathon to make its comeback after a two-year break because of the Corona pandemic.

The 39th edition will be started on Sunday with a field of over 11,500 marathon runners. Including running events at shorter distances the total number of participants is expected to be over 20,000 athletes. Elite runners could bring the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon back in overdrive as they are aiming for fast times. Ethiopia’s Gebru Redahgne and Kenyan Selly Kaptich head the start lists with personal bests of 2:05:58 and 2:21:09.

Weather conditions look very good although it may become warm towards the end of the elite races. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an Elite Label Road Race of World Athletics, the international athletics federation. A live stream can be accessed on the event’s website at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com , however this will not be possible in territories where there is live TV broadcast.

The women’s race

Back in 2019 it was a woman who produced the highlight of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon: Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei established the course record of 2:19:10, which was the first sub 2:20time in the history of the race. It could well be the women’s race again that stands out on Sunday. Selly Kaptich is ready for a very fast race. “I am confident that I can run a sub 2:20personal best and I want to attack the course record - that is what I am here for,“ said Selly Kaptich, who heads a field of eight women with personal bests of sub 2:25.

The former track runner mentioned a half way split time target of 69:00, which caught Christoph Kopp, Frankfurt’s Elite Race Coordinator, by surprise. “We had not heard about these plans from her management. However if she really wants to go that fast we will rearrange pacemaking to support her,“ said Christoph Kopp.

Fellow-Kenyan Helah Kiprop travelled to Frankfurt with a PB of 2:21:27. The marathon silver medallist from the World Championships 2015 ran this time in Tokyo in 2016. Earlier this year she showed fine form again with a 2:24:10 victory in Copenhagen. The 37 year-old has competed in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon back in 2014 when she was fifth with 2:27:14.

"I am happy to be back here. In 2014 I ran a PB in Frankfurt, so I hope to do it again here on Sunday,“ said Helah Kiprop.

Yoshi Chekole is the third woman in the field who has a PB of sub 2:22. The Ethiopian improved to 2:21:17 in Sevilla this February. “My goal is to run a personal best on Sunday and to finish in the best position possible,“ said Chekole, who prepared for four months for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon and feels she is in fine form. 

A runner who might be in for a surprise is Gladys Chepkurui. The Kenyan ran 2:28:55 in Paris this spring. However her PBs at 10k (30:48) and and in the half marathon (68:09) suggest that she could be able to run a time of around 2:22.

The men’s race

Gebru Redahgne is a newcomer to running at international level. The Ethiopian only competed outside his country for the first time in 2021. This spring he improved his personal best to 2:05:58 in Barcelona, the second marathon of his career. Redahgne is seeking to run even faster on the Frankfurt course which is renowned for speedy performances.

“I’ve trained well and want to break my personal best,” he said, confidently. The plan is for pacemakers to ensure the first half of the race is run in 62:45. “Gebru is not only the fastest but also the youngest on our list. It all adds up to making him the pre-race favourite. If the result is a time under 2:06, I’ll be delighted,” said Christoph Kopp.

One Kenyan is returning for his fifth attempt at winning the Frankfurt title: Martin Kosgey has deservedly earned the title of “Mr Frankfurt” with his consistently outstanding performances. He has twice finished runner-up in the Festhalle (in 2016 and 2018) and fourth on another two occasions (2017 and 2019). He ran what remains his personal best here in 2018 with 2:06:41.

“I shall definitely run in the leading group. A new personal best and also victory are possible,” said the father of three with high expectations. “Frankfurt is like a home town for me. I feel good, being here.”

His 29-year-old compatriot Charles Ndiema has a current personal best of 2:08:12, achieved this April in Vienna. His story of how he discovered the Frankfurt Marathon is unusual, but reflects the modern age: watching the race on YouTube three years ago created a long term goal for him. “I’m ready to run fast and stay at the front as long as I can,” said Ndiema.

One absentee will be the Ethiopian Betesfa Getahun, originally listed on the start list as the fastest in the men’s field with 2:05:28 but he cancelled his participation at short notice.

Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer intends to break his personal best of 2:10:18 and hopes to achieve a sub 2:10 time on Frankfurt’s fast course. He was a member of the German marathon team which took the silver medal in the team event at the European Championships in Munich this summer. Pfeiffer finished 24th in the individual event. Another German, Filimon Abraham, targets a sub 2:10 time as well.

He dropped out in his debut marathon in Hamburg this spring. For the two German runners the qualifying time for the 2023 World Championships of 2:09:40 could become a target as well.

Elite runners with personal bests 

Men:

Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58

Martin Kosgey KEN 2:06:41

Balew Yihunie Derseh ETH 2:07:22

Asefa Mengisa ETH 2:07:47

Charles Ndiema KEN 2:08:12

Brimin Misoi KEN 2:08:41

Deresa Ulfata ETH 2:08:42

Dominic Letting KEN 2:09:30

Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:10:18

Stephen Mugambi KEN 2:11:39

Justino da Silva BRA 2:13:31

Edson Arruda BRA 2:14:35

Justin Mahieu BEL 2:14:43

Filimon Abraham GER  - - -

Linus Maruka KEN Debüt

Ashenafi Gebru ETH Debüt

Eyob Solomun ERI Debüt

Merhawi Ghebreslasie FRA Debüt

Women:

Selly Kaptich KEN 2:21:06

Yeshi Chekole ETH 2:21:17

Helah Kiprop KEN 2:21:27

Atalel Anmut Dargie ETH 2:22:21

Juliet Chekwel UGA 2:23:13

Jackline Chepngeno KEN 2:24:21

Serdana Trofimova KGZ 2:24:38

Zinash Lema ETH 2:24:55

Meseret Abebayehu Alemu ETH 2:25:18

Caroline Jepchirchir KEN 2:26:11

Laura Hottenrott GER 2:28:02

Gladys Chepkurui KEN 2:28:55

Martha Akeno KEN 2:29:00

Sofiya Yaremchuk ITA 2:29:12

Thea Heim GER 2:36:10

Kenyans bound to face stiff competition at Frankfurt Marathon

Twelve Kenyans (six men and six women) have confirmed participation at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday.

However, the race is expected to be challenging considering the calibre of athletes it has attracted.

In the men’s field, the Ethiopian duo of Betesfa Getahun and Gebru Redahgne are the top two fastest with personal best times of 2:05:28 and 2:05:58 respectively.

 Kenya's Martin Kosgey will line up as the third fastest in the field with a lifetime best of 2:06:41. Kosgey placed second at the 2018 edition of the Frankfurt Marathon.

Kosgey is a regular in the Frankfurt event having finished second in 2016, fourth in 2017, second in 2018 and fourth in the 2019 edition. 

He will be in the company of compatriots Charles Ndiema (2:08:12), Brimin Misoi (2:08:41), Dominic Letting (2:09:30), Stephen Mugambi (2:11:39) and debutant Linus Maruka.

Other top contenders include the 2019 Osaka Marathon champion Asefa Mengisa from Ethiopia and this year’s Hannover Marathon champion Hendrik Pfeiffer of Germany. Mengisa has a personal best time of 2:07:47 while Pfeiffer has a PB of 2:10:18.

In the women’s category, Sally Kaptich, who has a PB of 2:21:09 leads a strong team. Kaptich will be in the company of Kenyans Helah Kiprop (2:21:27), Jackline Chepngeno (2:24:21), Caroline Jepchirchir (2:26:11), Gladys Chepkurui (2:28:55) and Martha Akeno (2:29:00).

Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole is the second fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:21:17, which she posted at this year’s Zurich Marathon to place third. Kiprop is the third fastest in the field and won this year’s Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. She is also the 2016 Tokyo Marathon winner.

The 2020 Zurich Marathon champion Juliet Chekwel of Uganda is also among the favourites to watch. She has a life time best of 2:23:13.

Strong elte fileds at Mainova Frankfurt Marathon this coming Sunday after a two-year-break

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will be back in action with strong elite fields this coming Sunday after a two-year-break. The men’s field shows nine athletes who have run under 2:10, led by the Ethiopian Getesfa Getahun whose personal best stands at 2:05:28.

Among the women, eight have broken 2:25 and the Kenyan Sally Kaptich is the fastest with a best of 2:21:09. The elite fields have also been boosted by the recruitment at short notice of the leading German runners Hendrik Pfeiffer, part of the successful national team at the European Championships, and Laura Hottenrott.

For the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon the organizers are expecting around 12,000 participants. Taking into account events held in conjunction, some 20,000 runners will be involved. This historic race is one of the Elite Label Road Race events, recognized by World Athletics, the governing body of international athletics. Information of how to enter Sunday’s race is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

“After a break of two years, caused by the Corona pandemic, we’ve been able to put together strong elite fields and we’ll have a big, impressive field of mass runners on the start line. We’re looking forward to a Mainova Frankfurt Marathon which will continue the tradition of past events and again prove a big thrill for participants and spectators alike,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler.

Two young talents from Ethiopia might well produce outstanding results on Frankfurt’s fast course. The 24-year-old Betesfa Getahun ran his fastest time to-date of 2:05:28 on his marathon debut in Amsterdam in 2019. Gebru Redahgne is 22 and the second fastest on the Frankfurt starting lists with his time of 2:05:58 in Barcelona at the beginning of May. Both are keen to take the next step and move up in the marathon hierarchy.

Alongside them will be the Kenyan who has earned the title of “Mr Frankfurt”, Martin Kosgey. He has two second places to his credit from the race in 2016 and 2018 as well as finishing fourth in 2017 and two years later. As further proof of how much at home he feels on the Frankfurt course, he ran his best time of 2:06:41 here in 2018.

Hendrik Pfeiffer had originally planned to run the New York Marathon in November but the 29-year-old wanted to profit from his current excellent form and take to Frankfurt’s renowned flat, fast course, aiming to improve his personal best of 2:10:18. “I’m confident I could run a personal best and, of course, would love to break 2:10,” said Pfeiffer, who finished 24th at the European Championships in Munich in August and helped the German squad win a silver medal in the Europa Cup team event.

“I’m grateful to the organizers for enabling me to run in Frankfurt at short notice and want to put my form to good use on the road.”

Only once previously has the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon had more than eight women entered with personal bests of under 2:25 and that was in 2018 when ten athletes were on the start line. The strength in depth among the elite raises hopes for an exciting as well as high quality race. The Kenyan Sally Kaptich with a best of 2:21:09, Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole (2:21:17) and Kenya’s World Championship silver medalist from 2015, Helah Kiprop (2:21:27) are the fastest on paper.

While this trio is likely to be disputing top honors, Germany’s Laura Hottenrott will hope to take advantage of Frankfurt’s fast course where so many personal bests have been achieved, aiming to improve her time of 2:28:02.

Elite runners with personal bests:

Men:

Betesfa Getahun ETH 2:05:28

Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58

Martin Kosgey KEN 2:06:41

Derseh Balew Yihunie ETH 2:07:22

Asefa Mengisa ETH 2:07:47

Charles Ndiema KEN 2:08:12

Brimin Misoi KEN 2:08:41

Deresa Ulfata ETH 2:08:42

Dominic Letting KEN 2:09:30

Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:10:18

Stephen Mugambi KEN 2:11:39

Justino da Silva BRA 2:13:31

Edson Arruda BRA 2:14:35

Justin Mahieu BEL 2:14:43

Filimon Abraham GER 

Linus Maruka KEN Debut

Ashenafi Gebru ETH Debut

Eyob Solomun ERI Debut

Merhawi Ghebreslasie FRA Debut

Women:

Sally Kaptich KEN 2:21:09

Yeshi Chekole ETH 2:21:17

Helah Kiprop KEN 2:21:27

Atalel Anmut ETH 2:22:21

Juliet Chekwel UGA 2:23:13

Jackline Chepngeno KEN 2:24:21

Serdana Trofimova KGZ 2:24:38

Zinash Lema ETH 2:24:55

Meseret Abebayehu ETH 2:25:18

Caroline Jepchirchir KEN 2:26:11

Laura Hottenrott GER 2:28:02

Gladys Chepkurui KEN 2:28:55

Martha Akeno KEN 2:29:00

Sofiya Yaremchuk ITA 2:29:12

Thea Heim GER 2:36:10

Kenyan Sally Kaptich leads star-studded field for Frankfurt Marathon

Sally Kaptich heads the line-up for the elite women's field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30. 

She tops the list of fast athletes with her best of 2:21:06 which she achieved in Berlin three years ago.

Kaptich comes to Frankfurt after finishing third in Berlin in 2019, where the 36-year-old ran what is currently her personal best of 2:21:06.

She was also seventh in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia and won a bronze medal at the World Half Marathon Championships the following year. She placed fourth in Tokyo Marathon in 2:21:42, six months after Berlin.

Her fellow Kenyan Helah Kiprop with a personal best of 2:21:27 will also be a contender. 

She finished second at the World Championship Marathon in Beijing in 2015 and won marathons in Seoul in 2014 and Tokyo in 2016, the latter being where she ran her personal best.

This year, Kiprop was back in action, winning the Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. Now 37, she knows the Frankfurt course well, having run what was then her fastest marathon of 2:27:14 in 2014 when she finished fifth

The Kenyan duo will be up against Ethiopian Yeshi Chekole. The Ethiopian improved her best to 2:21:17 for third place at the Seville Marathon in February. Also worth noting is her compatriot Meseret Abebayahau.

She ran her fastest marathon by over five minutes to finish second in 2:25:18 in Madrid in spring. The improvement was impressive since she had never broken 2:30 previously.

In the men's category, Martin Kosgey will spearhead Kenya's quest for glory in the event. He finished second in 2016 and 2018 and fourth in 2017 and 2019. 

The 33-year-old also set his personal best of 2:06:41 in 2018. The Frankfurt Marathon on October 30th will be his first race in a year. In 2021, the Kenyan performed well with a second-place finish in 2:06:56 at Eindhoven. 

Kosgey faces a stern test in the shape of Ethiopian Betesefa Getahun who has personal best of 2:05:28

Trio of fast women to compete in Frankfurt Marathon

Sally Kaptich heads the line-up for the elite women's field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30. The Kenyan tops the list of fast athletes with her best of 2:21:06 which she achieved in Berlin three years ago. The race organizers expect around 12,000 participants for the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with around 20,000 competitors in total, including events held in conjunction with the main event. This historic race is one of the Elite Label Road Race events, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the international governing body of the sport. Entries can still be obtained at www.frankfurt-marathon.com

Following the recent announcement of the first wave of competitors for the men’s elite field, the organizers have now announced a number of women contenders for the title. Three among this elite group have personal bests under 2:22. With this news the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, resuming after an enforced interruption of two years because of the Covid pandemic, has gone close to regaining the quality level of its previous women’s elite fields.

“With three runners who have already run under 2:22, we have a very strong women’s field on the start line,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler. “We’ve noted the interest shown by top runners in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Despite the enforced break because of the pandemic, the race continues to enjoy a strong reputation and runners know that we can offer a course and atmosphere which make setting personal bests a real possibility. Many elite athletes as well as mass runners have broken records or set personal bests in Frankfurt.”

Sally Kaptich comes to Frankfurt as an athlete who achieved third place in Berlin in 2019 where the 36-year-old ran what remains her personal best of 2:21:06. The Kenyan, who also has a seventh place in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships to her credit and a bronze medal on the road at the World Half Marathon Championships the following year, ran strongly following her Berlin performance to finish fourth in Tokyo with 2:21:42, six months after Berlin.

Her fellow Kenyan Helah Kiprop has still more laurels to her credit, as well as a best of 2:21:27. She finished second at the World Championship Marathon in Beijing in 2015 and won marathons in Seoul in 2014 and Tokyo in 2016, the latter being where she ran her personal best. This year Kiprop was back in action and winning the Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. Now 37, she knows the Frankfurt course well, having run what was then her fastest marathon of 2:27:14 in 2014 when she finished fifth.

The third runner on the Frankfurt start list with a best of under 2:22  will be Yeshi Kalayu Chekole. The Ethiopian improved her best to 2:21:17 for third place at the Seville Marathon in February. Also worth noting is her compatriot Meseret Abebayahau. She ran her fastest marathon by over five minutes to finish second in 2:25:18 in Madrid in spring. The improvement was all the more impressive since she had never broken 2:30 previously.

More Information and online entry are available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

High Class Elite Field marks Frankfurt’s Return

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will take place on October 30 for the first time since 2019. Among the men’s elite are three contenders with personal bests of under 2:06 which points to a high-quality race in prospect. The Ethiopian Betesfa Getahun is the fastest runner in the field at present with a best of 2:05:28. Also on the start line will be the German runner Filimon Abraham from theTelis Finanz Regensburg club. The organisers of the race, which will end in its traditional, spectacular fashion in Frankfurt’s Festhalle, expect to have around 12,000 marathon runners for the 39th edition of the event. The race is an Elite Label Road Race, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the world governing body of athletics. Entries are still available at www.frankfurt-marathon.com

“We are delighted that the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is back after a two-year interruption because of the Corona Pandemic – with strong elite fields, a big number of mass runners and all the emotions which we have experienced in the past,” says the Race Director Jo Schindler. “We’ll experience the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon just as it’s always been: a big start and thrilling run-in to the finish in the Festhalle in front of thousands of spectators. Our aim is to create a unique running experience for mass and elite competitors alike and to see many beaming faces at the end of race day.”

The organisers have now announced part of the men’s elite field while recruiting for the women’s race continues and the elite women’s field will be announced at a later date. An up-and-coming Ethiopian is the fastest man on the start list: Betesfa Getahun is 23 and made his marathon debut in 2019 with an impressive, high-quality performance, running 2:05:28 for fourth place in Amsterdam. The Mainova Frankfurt will be his fourth race at the distance for the runner whose pedigree includes a strong showing in sixth place at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia.

The other runner, who has already gone under 2:06, is also from Ethiopia and is just 21: Gebru Redahgne is a newcomer to running at international level, running outside of his homeland for the first time only last year when he finished second in the Cape Town Marathon in 2:10:17. He made a massive improvement this year in Barcelona where he ran 2:05:58 for another second place finish and only five seconds behind the winner. Gebru Redahgne wants to take full advantage of Frankfurt’s fast course to improve his personal best still further.

A runner from Kenya is making his return to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon where he has more than once impressed with the quality of his performances. Martin Kosgey twice finished second in the Festhalle, in 2016 and 2018, as well as taking fourth place on two more occasions, 2017 and 2019. Frankfurt was where the 33-year-old set what remains his personal best of 2:06:41. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30 will be his first race in a year when he produced a solid performance to finish runner-up in Eindhoven in 2:06:56.

Since almost every German runner at top level were involved in either the World or European Championships this summer, almost none of them will be competing in Frankfurt. An exception is Filimon Abraham of the Telis Finanz Regensburg club who has the potential to join the leading ranks of Germany’s marathoners. After failing to finish on his marathon debut in Hamburg in April, the 29-year-old, who finished 19th in the 10,000m at the European Championships in Munich in August, is renewing his marathon quest on Frankfurt’s fast course.

Strong Vienna elite fields could attack course records

Both course records could become a target at the Vienna City Marathon, which features strong elite races on April 24. Kenyans Leonard Langat and Vibian Chepkirui will return to defend their Vienna titles while there are three men on the start list who have broken 2:06 and five women featuring personal bests of sub 2:25.

With regard to these personal records it will be strongest line-up in the history of the Vienna City Marathon which will see its 39th edition next week. Including races at shorter distances more than 31,000 runners have registered for Austria’s biggest running event, a World Athletics Marathon Label Road Race.

“We are very happy that we were able to surpass the mark of 30,000 entries. Compared to our comeback race in September 2021 this is a nice step forward. We feel the enthusiasm of the runners,“ said Kathrin Widu, the General Manager of the Vienna City Marathon.

There has never been an Eritrean winner in the history of the Vienna City Marathon which had its first edition back in 1984. This may change next week though since the two fastest entrants are from this country: Goitom Kifle and Oqbe Kibrom feature personal bests of 2:05:28 and 2:05:53 respectively. Kifle had a fine year in 2021: He was third in Enschede, 14th in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo and then 6th in Valencia, where he ran his PB. With his personal record the Eritrean is a little faster than Vienna’s course record of 2:05:41 by Ethiopia’s Getu Feluke in 2014.

Abdi Fufa of Ethiopia is the third athlete in Vienna’s line-up who has run sub 2:06. A year ago he was second in Siena’s elite only race with 2:05:57. It looks a tough task for Leonard Langat to defend his title in the Austrian capital. The Kenyan improved to 2:09:25 in Vienna last September. But with this PB he is only the eighth fastest athlete on the start list.

Unfortunately there were a number of cancellations from elite runners recently. Among them are Mekuant Ayenew and fellow-Ethiopian Derara Hurisa, who had originally crossed the line first in last year’s Vienna City Marathon. However he then had to be disqualified for wearing illegal racing shoes and Leonard Langat became the winner.

The fastest runner on the women’s start list is Caroline Kilel, who ran 2:22:34 when she took the Frankfurt Marathon back in 2013. While the Kenyan did not reach these sort of times recently there are other athletes who showed promising last year. Defending champion Vibian Chepkirui may only be number five on the list with her PB of 2:24:29.

However she did run this time last September in Vienna in very warm conditions. Afterwards the Kenyan said that she could have been at least two minutes faster in more suitable conditions. 

Vibian Chepkirui could be capable of attacking the course record of fellow-Kenyan Nancy Kiprop who was the winner in 2019 with 2:22:12.

Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok and Ethiopia’s Sifan Melaku are number two and three on Vienna’s start list with PBs of 2:23:29 and 2:23:49 respectively. Sheila Jerotich of Kenya is a contender for victory as well. She took the Istanbul Marathon in November, improving to 2:24:15.

Elite fields with personal bests

Men:

Goitom Kifle ERI 2:05:28

Oqbe Kibrom ERI 2:05:53

Abdi Fufa ETH 2:05:57

Raymond Choge KEN 2:08:11

Cosmas Muteti KEN 2:08:45

Weldu Gebretsadik NOR 2:09:14

Edwin Soi KEN 2:09:16

Leonard Langat KEN 2:09:25

Charles Ndiema KEN 2:10:43

Lemawork Ketema AUT 2:10:44

Jeison Suarez COL 2:10:51

Iraitz Arrospide ESP 2:10.59

Noah Kipkemboi KEN 2:11:09

Ebba Chala ETH 2:11:27

Abraham Kipyatich KEN Debut

Timon Theuer AUT Debut

Women:

Caroline Kilel KEN 2:22:34

Ruth Chebitok KEN 2:23:29

Sifan Melaku ETH 2:23:49

Sheila Jerotich KEN 2:24:15

Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:24:29

Esther Kakuri KEN 2:26:11

Urge Soboka ETH 2:28:10

Marcela Joglova CZE 2:28:16

Nataliya Lehonkova UKR 2:28:58

Kellys Arias COL 2:29:36

Viola Yator KEN 2:30:03

Teresiah Omosa KEN 2:30:12

Nataliya Lehonkova UKR 2:30:28

After two year-break Mainova Frankfurt Marathon returns on October 30

Following a two-year break because of the Corona Pandemic organisers of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon are confident that their race will return on 30th October. First held in the spring of 1981 with over 3,000 participants the event is Germany’s oldest city marathon. Over 14,000 marathon runners competed in 2019 when the race was last held. The former Gold Label Road Race, which is now an Elite Label Road Race of World Athletics, will have a new sports sponsor this year: Hoka One One. Online entry for the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is possible from now on at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

Hoka One One, a division of Deckers Brands, has been named as an official sportswear partner of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon for five years. Commencing in 2022, Hoka’s official partner status aims to enhance participants’ experience and help to further broaden interest in the event, engaging with its strong following in the running community.

The imposing Frankfurt skyline sets the stage for Frankfurt's largest street festival with many bands and stages, presenters, and music groups entertaining the runners along the route. As they approach the finish line, participants run the red carpet into the historic Frankfurt Festhalle - a spectacular indoor finish.

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon has been recognized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics and is also one of the most environmentally friendly marathons worldwide, winning the ‘AIMS Green Marathon Award’ in 2014 in recognition of this.

“In Hoka, we have found a strong partner for the further development of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. As experts in innovation and quality in the field of running, we are very much looking forward to working together over the coming years. We are particularly impressed that Hoka are dedicated to strongly supporting our efforts in environmental initiatives for a sustainable marathon. We are therefore very much looking forward to the partnership, from which our participants will certainly benefit. After two tough years in which the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon unfortunately could not take place due to the Corona Pandemic, we are now looking forward with confidence. The partnership with Hoka will give us new momentum for the coming years,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.

Mike McManus, Director of Global Sports Marketing, added: “As the longest established race in Germany, Hoka is thrilled to be announcing our support of the historic Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. We are committed to bringing an outstanding running experience to the participants, and to enhancing this already world-class event with our commitment to bold innovation and our love of the sport.”

Through its support of this event, Hoka aims to ignite its ambitions in Europe and beyond, in line with its mission of empowering all athletes to feel like they can fly. As well as the creation of a world-class customer experience, the focus will be using this incredible platform to raise awareness amongst new and existing Hoka fans about the brand and its products.

More Information and online entry are available at: Frankfurt-Marathon.com.