FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday:
Frankfurt aims for first sub 2:20 course record
with Lonah Salpeter and Meskerem Assefa the leading entrants
The 2:20 barrier is the major target at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on
Sunday. No woman has achieved this time in Germany's oldest city marathon
and so far in Germany only Berlin has achieved this distinction. Given good
weather conditions, a group of women are aiming to break 2:20 on Sunday.
Meskerem Assefa, who clocked the current course record of 2:20:36 last
year, returns to defend her title. The Ethiopian is not the fastest on the
start list since Lonah Salpeter of Israel has made a late entry and her
personal best stands at 2:19:46. The men's race will see a unique clash of
the world junior record holder versus the world masters record holder:
Tsegaye Mekonnen of Ethiopia against Kenya's Mark Kiptoo. Sunday's race
will also have major significance for the many runners aiming for the
Olympic qualifying times of 2:11:30 and 2:29:30 respectively on Frankfurt's
traditionally fast course.
Organizers expect around 14,000 marathon runners from 110 countries on the
startline for the 38th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. The race
is an IAAF Gold Label event, the highest category in international road
racing. It is still possible to enter during the Marathon Expo on Friday
and Saturday. Further details can be found at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
"We have put together an interesting field and I'm expecting great races
with the possibility of newcomers to the marathon springing a surprise. The
weather forecast is good, especially in contrast to last year there
shouldn't be any problems with the wind. In the women's race the big
question is whether Frankfurt will see the first ever sub-2:20 time. Elite
and mass sport belong together in a marathon. We want to have elite sport
adding a special spice to the event," said the race organizer Jo Schindler
at the pre-event press conference in Frankfurt's Mövenpick Hotel.
Top women target 2:20
The elite fields promise thrilling races with world-class performances in
prospect. Lonah Salpeter, the Israeli record holder, is not only the
fastest woman in this year's field with her best of 2:19:46 but the fastest
ever to line up in Frankfurt. She and a clutch of other women all have the
potential to run a course record or even 2:19 and bring the fans gathered
at the finish line in the city's Festhalle to their feet.
Last year's women's champion Meskerem Assefa of Ethiopia arrives with the
memory of her course record of 12 months ago (2:20:36) still vivid in her
memory. She says she is ready for a fast race as is the Kenyan Valary
Aiyabei (2:20:53) and Meskerem's Ethiopian compatriot Bedatu Hirpa
(2:21:32) who finished third last year. Another Ethiopian to be reckoned
with is Megertu Kebede who has a best of 2:22:52. The latter won the Rome
title and wants a split for the first half of 69:00. "The women are in top
form and we're excited about what they might do. The watchword must be,
keep it steady, don't go out too fast at the start," commented the elite
race co-ordinator Christoph Kopp.
The arrival of Lonah Salpeter, a late entry for the race in Frankfurt, has
added a big impetus to the hopes for a sub 2:20. Salpeter, the Israeli
record holder, is the third fastest European of all time after winning the
Prague Marathon this May in 2:19:46. Only the former world record holder
Paula Radcliffe with 2:15:25 and Germany's Irina Mikitenko with 2:19:19
have run faster. After dropping out of the brutally tough World
Championship marathon in Doha, run in temperatures of 32 degrees
Centigrade, she recovered well enough to enter the Mainova Frankfurt
Marathon: "It wasn't hard for me to start training again after the World
Championships. I will do my best and see what happens."
Someone who might well spring a surprise by taking the initiative is
Megertu Kebede. She staked her claim in terms of speed over the shorter
distances with a personal best of 66:43 at the highly competitive
Copenhagen Half Marathon on September 15. She wants to run the first half
in 69:00 and is clear about her intentions: "I am confident I can run a
time under 2:20." Also among the contingent with their eyes on the course
record are the defending champion Meskerem Assefa, Valary Aiyabei and
Bedatu Hirpa. "I'm stronger than last year," said the 2018 women's champion
Assefa. Only slight behind them in terms of personal bests are other high
quality performers such as the Kenyan duo of Caroline Rotich with a best of
2:23:22 and Sylvia Kibet, the Olympic 5,000m bronze medallist in 2008 as
well as double World Championship silver medallist.
Compact Elite Field includes World Junior and Masters Record Holders
The fastest man in the field is Tsegaye Mekonnen, the world junior record
holder from Ethiopia whose best of 2:04:32 dates back to his victorious
marathon debut in Dubai in 2014. Eight men are included who have run under
2:08 and among them is the 43-year-old Mark Kiptoo of Kenya, the M40 world
record holder. He achieved this distinction in Frankfurt last year, running
2:07:50 for sixth place. Kiptoo believes there is still more to come: "If
the conditions are right, I can improve my world record again." Christoph
Kopp as elite race co-ordinator added: "Mark Kiptoo wants to run with the
leading group who are aiming to go through half way in 62:30. He is
experienced enough to achieve that. He is unlikely to win but can be right
up there."
Dawit Wolde, whose best is 2:06:18, is the husband of the women's champion
Meskerem Assefa and he and his fellow Ethiopians Fikre Tefera (2:06:27) and
Tebalu Heyi (2:07:10) along with the Kenyans Bernard Kipyego (2:06:19) and
Martin Kosgey (2:06:41), the latter runner-up last year, comprise the core
of the men's elite. A late addition is Daniele Meucci of Italy, the 2014
European Marathon champion.
Olympic qualifying time is Goal for German Runners
The best German runners are Katharina Steinruck and the men's marathon
debutant Homiyu Tesfaye. Local competitor Steinruck will be going for the
Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30 in the company of other Europeans
including the Briton Steph Twell. As for Tesfaye, he hopes to become the
first German run the men's Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:30.
Leading Runners and their Personal Bests:
Men:
Tsegaye Mekonnen ETH 2:04:32
Mark Kiptoo KEN 2:06:00
Dawit Wolde ETH 2:06:18
Benard Kipyego KEN 2:06:19
Fikre Tefera ETH 2:06:27
Martin Kosgey KEN 2:06:41
Tebalu Heyi ETH 2:07:10
Kenneth Keter KEN 2:07:34
John Koriri KEN 2:09:14
Nicodemus Kimutai KEN 2:10:00
Maru Teferi ISR 2:10:11
Daniele Meucci ITA 2:10:45
Blazej Brzezinski POL 2:11:27
Bethwel Rutto KEN 2:11:59
Mogos Solomon ERI 2:12:23
Derek Hawkins GBR 2:12:57
Remigijus Kancys LIT 2:13:12
Adam Nowicki POL 2:13:28
Solomon Tesfamariam SUI 2:14:51
Homiyu Tesfaye GER Debut
Women:
Lonah Salpeter ISR 2:19:46
Meskerem Assefa ETH 2:20:36
Valary Aiyabei KEN 2:20:53
Bedatu Hirpa ETH 2:21:32
Megertu Kebede ETH 2:22:52
Caroline Rotich KEN 2:23:22
Askale Wegi ETH 2:24:13
Sylvia Kibet KEN 2:25:52
Antonia Kwambai KEN 2:27:43
Katharina Steinruck GER 2:28:34
Nataliya Lehonkova UKR 2:28:58
Sylvia Medugu KEN 2:29:09
Hanna Lindholm SWE 2:29:34
Stephanie Twell GBR 2:30:14
Samantha Bluske USA 2:31:56
Hayley Carruthers GBR 2:33:59
Aleksandra Brzezinska POL 2:34:51
More Information and online entry are available at:
www.frankfurt-marathon.com
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