Fast times are expected at the German races on Sunday as the fall marathon season continues
Kenya’s Elisha Rotich and Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole lead the field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday (October 27).
Rotich’s personal best is 2:04:21 and Cekole’s personal best is 2:21:17. More than 14,000 marathon runners have participated in this World Athletics Elite Label road race.
Recently, a number of athletes have had to withdraw due to injury or visa issues. Among them are Ethiopians Herpasa Negasa and Tigist Abayechu, as well as Eric Kiptanui from Kenya. The men’s start list now features five runners with personal bests around 2:07:00 and another 10 who have run under 2:10:00.
While the leading men are likely to run at a 2:05 pace and organizers are hoping to beat a time just under that mark, the women can highlight the 41st edition of Germany’s oldest city marathon.
They are expected to attack the record of Valary Aiyabeyi, a Kenyan who ran 2:19:10 in 2019.
Five women competed in the race, posting personal bests of 2:23:00. Also, Ethiopia’s Havi Feisa is among the favorites with his best marathon time of 2:23:36 and half marathon time of 65:41.
Tom Turley and Laura Hottenroth lead the domestic challenges in Frankfurt. Turley was second in 2:14:52 at this year’s German championships, while Hottenroth ran 2:24:32 in Valencia a year ago.
British records include Georgina SchwieningThe former world duathlon champion, who ran 2:26:28 in Valencia last December, plus Naomi Mitchell and Louise Small.
Also look out for the Venice and Dublin Marathons this weekend, as well as the Valencia Half Marathon.
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