The addition of Lonah Salpeter completes the elite field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon which takes place next Sunday. The Kenyan-born runner who competes for Israel has a personal best of 2:19:46 which makes her the fastest woman ever to be on the start list of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Among her rivals will be the course record holder and last year’s women’s champion, Meskerem Assefa from Ethiopia, who ran 2:20:36 here 12 months ago. The men’s race on Sunday features a rare, perhaps unique contest over the marathon distance: junior against veteran or masters world record holder – Tsegaye Mekonnen against Mark Kiptoo. Mekonnen of Ethiopia has a best of 2:04:32 which means he is the fastest man in the field while the Kenyan Kiptoo’s personal best is 2:06:00.
Many athletes competing in Frankfurt will have their eyes on the qualifying times for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. The target for the men is 2:11:30 and 2:29:30 for the women.
Around 14,000 entries are expected for the race. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label race, the highest category in international road running.
Eight men with best times under 2:08 will be on the start line which suggests yet another high quality and exciting race for top honours in Frankfurt with finishing times to match. Tsegaye Mekonnen is looking to re-establish himself with a fast time after injury problems on a Mainova Frankfurt Marathon course renowned for speedy performances. The world masters record holder Mark Kiptoo, who set an age group record here last year, should also have a say in the outcome this time. If he can match his younger rivals, his own masters world record will be under pressure.
Given the extraordinary strength in depth of the women’s race, the course record could well fall after just one year in existence – and the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon might record the first sub-2:20 women’s time in its history. Four women who have run under 2:22 will be on the start line: alongside Israel’s Lonah Salpeter (2:19:46) will be the title holder Meskerem Assefa of Ethiopia, who set the course record of 2:20:36 last year, the Kenyan Valary Aiyabei with a best of 2:20:53 and the Ethiopian Bedatu Hirpa (2:21:32). The latter finished third in Frankfurt last year. Another expected to produce a strong performance is the Ethiopian Megertu Kebede whose best is 2:22:52.
Two Europeans seeking both big improvements on their personal bests and the Olympic qualifying times will be Britain’s Stephanie Twell (2:30:14) and the local runner Katharina Steinruck (2:28:34).
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
Nicodemus Kimutai KEN 2:10:00
Daniele Meucci ITA 2:10:45
Blazej Brzezinski POL 2:11:27
Fernando Cabada USA 2:11:36
Bethwel Rutto KEN 2:11:59
Mogos Solomon ERI 2:12:23
Derek Hawkins GBR 2:12:57
Adam Nowicki POL 2:13:28
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
