Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
11/4/2023
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Florence Kiplagat seeking redemption at the Dublin Marathon after Gold Coast heartbreak
36-year-old Florence Kiplagat will be looking to end her season on a high at the Dublin Marathon after faltering at the Gold Coast Marathon earlier this year.
Former World Half Marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat will be looking to soothe her Gold Coast Marathon heartbreak with a win at the Dublin Marathon.
Competing at the Gold Coast Marathon earlier this year, Kiplagat was hopeful of finishing in the podium bracket but unfortunately faded to finish sixth. She however has another chance to compete and hopefully finish in the top three.
The 36-year-old has just come back into competition in 2023 since her last race back in 2019. She was out of competition for the past four years due to a series of illnesses and the worldwide COVID-19 disruption.
She will now be competing in her second race this season scheduled for Sunday, October 29 in one of Ireland’s biggest marathons.
The Kenyan will not have an easy time securing her dreams since the race has also attracted several strong women. Defending champion Nigist Muluneh of Ethiopia will be making a return, hoping to secure back-to-back titles.
The Ethiopian has been in impeccable form this season, clocking a Personal Best time of 2:27:41 this year when racing in the Riyadh marathon in Saudi Arabia.
She will enjoy the company of compatriots Amente Sorome Negash, Genet Habela Abdurkadir, and Hawi Megersa who are also among the top women in the elite field.
Negash is the second fastest in the field and she will also be vying for a seat on the high table owing to her impressive form this season. Abdurkadir and Megersa line up as the fourth and sixth-fastest in the field and the duo will be looking for triumph in the streets of Ireland.
Another potential threat is Hanane Qallouj, who lines up as the fifth-fastest in the field. She has a Personal Best time of 2:31:27 and she will be on a mission to dethrone the Ethiopians.
(10/27/23) Views: 121
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
(10/27/23) Views: 110
Try this summit attack hill workout to improve your hill-running technique
One of the biggest mistakes runners make during races is relaxing too much at the top of hills. Hills are tough, and it’s tempting to give yourself a bit of a break once you finally reach the summit of a particularly difficult climb. But runners who can push through the burning in their quads will reap rewards. This workout–aptly named the summit attack workout–will help you practise doing just that, and turn you into a beast on the hills.
The summit attack hill workout
All runners slow down when they hit a hill. Experts and coaches often recommend that you slow down, focusing on maintaining the same effort, rather than the same pace, that you were running on the flats. What’s important in a race, however, is that when you reach the top, you get back onto your flat-ground pace as quickly as you can.
Many runners, however, slow down at the top of a hill. They reach the summit, relieved that they’ve finally gotten to the top, and take their foot off the gas to appease the burning in their quads. While this is a completely understandable reaction, you’ll benefit much more from doing the opposite.
Instead, you should keep pushing at the same effort that you were putting out during the climb, so that you get back into your pre-hill pace. Yes, this means pushing through the burning in your quads, but you’ll be surprised to find that the burning will ease up, even while running at a quicker pace. You’ll also be able to bring your heart rate back down to a more manageable level just as quickly as if you’d slowed down.
Why do this? Ultimately, it’ll result in a faster finishing time, and for the more competitive runners out there, you’d be amazed at how many people you can pass at the top of a hill. But as with anything, this takes a bit of practice.
The workout
To do this workout, you’ll need a hill that takes about 45 seconds to a minute to get to the top, followed by a long flat section. The goal for each hill repeat is to run hard to the top, then lengthen your stride as you reach the summit and accelerate for about 15 seconds. This will help you practise making that hill-to-flat transition. Jog down for recovery.
Warmup: 10 minutes’ easy jog, followed by form drills
Workout: 6-10 x the hill + flat, with an easy jog back down for recovery
Cooldown: 10 minutes’ easy jog
(10/28/23) Views: 107Brittany Hambleton
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.
(10/28/23) Views: 101Christopher Kelsall
19-year-old Elkanah Chemelil chasing Olympic debut after training camp in France
Elkanah Chemelil, 19, is not resting on his laurels as he sets eyes on making his debut at the Olympic Games.
Youngster Elkanah Chemelil is a man on a mission as he eyes a memorable debut at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The 19-year-old has been one of the beneficiaries of the Miramas Training Camp in France and he is bullish about making Team Kenya to the Olympic Games despite his tender age. He competes in the 400m and he believes he stands a chance of doing well on the global stage.
Speaking to Pulse Sports Kenya exclusively, Chemelil said: “I am currently preparing for the Olympic Games.
"I have been spending most of my time in France and training there has helped me a lot in terms of building up for the outdoor events.
"I have had a great season starting off with my indoor tour which was a great build-up for me ahead of the outdoor season. I performed well and I thank God.”
Chemelil was in action at the African Under-20 Championships where he finished sixth in the final of the 400m race.
He also competed at the National Championships but unfortunately failed to make it to the final of the 400m. He competed in a couple of 400m races in France and posted great times.
The youngster added that he was invited for the World Championships national trials but he could not avail himself since he was in France, sharpening his talons.
“I have learned a lot in France and I’m sure it will help me a lot as I gear up for the Olympic Games. I have gained more skills in the techniques…they take techniques very seriously.
"I have also learned how to run the 400m better and I have great starts. I have been performing very well in my starts this season.
"I have also been competing with the seniors and I have gained more experience from them,” he said.
(10/28/23) Views: 100Abigael Wuafula
Kenyan athletes Limo Kiprop and Kellen Waithira won the 14th Casablanca International Marathon on Sunday
Kenyan athlete Limo Kiprop won the 14th Casablanca International Marathon on Sunday, after setting a time of 2:13:29.
Second place went to Moroccan Mohamed Talhaoui (2:13:35), while his compatriot Mountacer Zaghou (2:17:04) came third.
Among the women, Kenyan Kellen Waithira came in first place, with a time of 2:29:46. She beat her compatriot Paskalia Chipkorir (2:31:51) and Ethiopian Gode Chala Jijo (2:37:39).
In the Half-Marathon and the 10 km race, the men's and women's podiums were 100% Moroccan.
As for the men's Half-Marathon podium, it is made up of Abdelkarim Benzahra (1:02:52), Brahim Khalyfah (1:02:58) and Fathi Abdenasir (1:03:44), while among the men ladies, Fatima-Zhahra Ouhrisse (1:15:53), Fatiha Benchatki (1:16:19) and Aziza Alaoui Selsouli (1:16:53) occupied the first three places.
Regarding the 10 km race (men), it was won by Jamal Hitrane (28:00), who beat Hicham Wassmi (28:01) and Elayadi Zaroual (28:02). Among the women, Wafa Zaroual (33:07) came in first place ahead of Soukaina Bouadoud (34:23) and Soumia Sanad (34:31).
The organizers of the Casablanca International Marathon have achieved a record participation in the 14th edition, estimating the number of participants at nearly 10,500, from 38 countries.
The Casablanca International Marathon is the result of a partnership between the municipality of Casablanca and a set of major partners, including the Wilaya of the Casablanca-Settat region, the Council of the Casablanca-Settat Region, the Prefectural Council of Casablanca , the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation through the Casablanca Athletics League and the local development company, Casablanca Events & Animation.
(10/30/23) Views: 100
Olympians and national champions to headline stacked professional athlete field at 2023 USATF 5K Championships
Weini Kelati, Courtney Frerichs, Keira D’Amato, Woody Kincaid, and Zach Panning to race for world’s largest 5K prize purse; Nearly 10,000 runners to follow in footsteps of pros by racing Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K.
Five Olympians, one Paralympian, and four athletes who competed at this year’s World Athletics Championships will race in the 2023 USA Track & Field (USATF) 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 4. The event will take place in Midtown Manhattan the day prior to the TCS New York City Marathon and will be broadcast live on USATF.TV. Abbott will return as the title partner of the event which features a $79,500 prize purse – the largest of any 5K race in the world.
In the women’s race, two-time NCAA champion Weini Kelati will return in search of her third consecutive title in the event. Each of the last two years she has smashed the event record, taking the tape in 15:18 in 2021 and 15:15 in 2022. She will be challenged for the top spot on the podium this year by three-time national champion Keira D’Amato, 2023 U.S. cross-country champion Ednah Kurgat, and U.S. Olympians Abbey Cooper, Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, and Rachel Smith.
“Doing the Abbott Dash 5K is becoming a little bit of a early season tradition for me,” Kelati said. “Although my fall season looked a little bit different this year because of the opportunity I had to represent Team USA at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia, I’m really happy I get to come back to New York to try for my third straight 5K national title.”
Woody Kincaid, the U.S. 10,000-meter champion and American record-holder in the indoor 5,000 meters, will lead the men’s field. Lining up against him will be Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz, the top American finisher at the World Athletics Championships marathon this year Zach Panning, 2023 B.A.A. 5K champion Morgan Beadlescomb, and last year’s fourth through sixth-place finishers in New York, Ahmed Muhumed, Alec Basten, and Brian Barraza.
“I still see my career being mostly on the track for the next few years, but I like the idea of throwing in some more road races when it makes sense,” Kincaid said. “As I look towards the Paris Games, the Abbott Dash will be a nice jump-start to my 2024 training, and it will be cool to be in the middle of the big city marathon hoopla without having to go the full 26.2.”
Following in the footsteps of the professional athletes, nearly 10,000 runners will participate in the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, including top local athletes and many runners in the marathon on November 5.
Abbott, the title sponsor of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, is the sponsor of the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K for the seventh time. Abbott, a global healthcare leader, helps people live more fully with life-changing technology and celebrate what’s possible with good health.
The Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K annually provides TCS New York City Marathon supporters, friends, and families the opportunity to join in on the thrill of marathon race week. The course begins on Manhattan’s east side by the United Nations, then takes runners along 42nd Street past historic Grand Central Terminal and up the world-famous Avenue of the Americas past Radio City Music Hall. It then passes through the rolling hills of Central Park before finishing at the iconic TCS New York City Marathon finish line.
The Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K and USATF 5K Championships will be broadcast live via USATF.TV. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 8:20 a.m. ET with the first race starting at 8:30 a.m. ET.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
(10/27/23) Views: 96
Running USA
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.”
(10/28/23) Views: 96
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
(10/29/23) Views: 96World Athletics
Tanzania's Gabriel Geay goes hunting for redemption in Valencia after Sydney disappointment
The Tanzanian ace failed to finish the race at the Sydney Marathon and he will be searching for redemption in the streets of Valencia.
Tanzania’s marathon ace Gabriel Geay will be lining up for his third marathon this year at the Valencia Marathon scheduled for Sunday, December 3.
The Tanzanian, who started off his season with a second-place finish at the Boston Marathon made the announcement on his Instagram page.
He said: “I’m excited to announce that I will be back to Valencia.”
His announcement comes after he encountered a hitch at the Sydney Marathon, lining up as one of the pre-race favourites, but he failed to finish the race. He did not explain what went wrong but noted that he encountered some challenges.
“Marathon is life and life is full of challenges. Today was a tough day for me but sometimes we must accept the defeat and focus for the next time. Thank you, Sydney Marathon, for the amazing event,” he said.
In Valencia, he will be lining up with the hope of redemption and also looking forward to ending his season on a high.
However, he will not have an easy time since the field has attracted some of the strongest marathoners ever. It will be at the Valencia Marathon where Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei will be debuting.
The Kenyan charge will be led by the duo of Alexander Mutiso and Kibiwott Kandie. Kandie is in the form of his life since he is just fresh from defending his Valencia Half Marathon title and he will be keen to build on that ahead of the marathon.
Mutiso, also an able athlete, will be competing in his second marathon this season after his triumph at the Prague Marathon.
(10/27/23) Views: 93Abigael Wuafula
