{"id":295077,"date":"2018-10-26T15:45:26","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T13:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deploy.frankfurt-marathon.com\/?p=295077"},"modified":"2018-10-26T15:45:26","modified_gmt":"2018-10-26T13:45:26","slug":"frankfurt-aims-for-new-heights-with-strength-in-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/frankfurt-aims-for-new-heights-with-strength-in-depth\/","title":{"rendered":"Frankfurt aims for new Heights with Strength in Depth"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Frankfurt this year especially is rich in running talent with 14 men who have broken 2:10 and ten women with personal bests of sub-2:25, making the latter field among the strongest in the event\u2019s 37-year history. Top of the women\u2019s marathon charts on lifetime performances is the former World champion Mare Dibaba from Ethiopia, the first woman on the start line with a sub-2:20 to her credit, plus this year\u2019s Paris champion Betsy Saina of Kenya among a group of women who should have the credentials to put the course record of 2:21:01 under pressure. The current course record was set by the Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu in 2012. Among the contenders for the men\u2019s title are two who have already stood on Frankfurt\u2019s podium but without mounting the top step: Ethiopia\u2019s Kelkile Gezahegn finished second in 2017 and Martin Kosgey of Kenya was runner-up the previous year. Another Kenyan, Wilson Chebet has a personal best to make any rival consider him a threat: his 2:05:27 makes him the fastest in the field. The leading German runners are national record holder Arne Gabius, who ran his best of 2:08:33 here three years ago, and the Frankfurt born and bred athlete Katharina Heinig.<\/p>\n

This weekend more than 26,000 runners will be on the move in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon including 13,800 taking part in the marathon. The event has IAAF Gold Label status, the highest category awarded for road racing by the world governing body of athletics. Frankfurt and Berlin are the only German races to be awarded this distinction.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt top level we can look forward to high quality competition. Our women\u2019s course record isn\u2019t quite up to the standard of our men\u2019s \u2013 2:21:01 compared to 2:03:42 \u2013 and we want to help raise that standard. A long-term goal has been to help develop women\u2019s running and not just among the elite. That\u2019s why we are making renewed efforts to encourage women to run marathons,\u201d said race director Jo Schindler at the pre-race press conference in Frankfurt\u2019s M\u00f6venpick Hotel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Race <\/strong><\/p>\n

Frankfurt will feature a contest between two runner-ups, setting Ethiopian Kelkile Gezahegn against the Kenyan Martin Kosgey. They finished second in Frankfurt in the previous two years. Gezahegn ran 2:06:56 in Frankfurt for second place last year and then improved to 2:05:56 for third place in Rotterdam in the spring. Kosgey ran his PB of 2:07:22 to finish second in the 2016 edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.<\/p>\n

\u201eI have prepared well for more than three months and I am planning for a fast time,\u201c explained Kelkile Gezahegn. \u201eMy aim is to bring myself in a position to be considered for Olympic selection. I want to run 2:04 on Sunday.\u201c While the 22 year-old Ethiopian said he plans to run the first half in 62:00 minutes, Elite Race Director Christoph Kopp intends to instruct the pacemakers for a slightly slower approach. \u201eOur idea is to cover the first half in around 62:40. In Frankfurt we often had a faster second half, which is what we hope to see on Sunday as well,\u201c said Kopp.<\/p>\n

While Martin Kosgey plans to go with the first group so does Wilson Chebet. The three-time Amsterdam winner (2011 to 2013) has done some training runs together with Frankfurt\u2019s course record holder and former world record holder Wilson Kipsang. \u201eWe talked about Frankfurt shortly before I travelled here and Wilson gave me some boost. He said Frankfurt is great for fast times and that the course is even faster than the one in Amsterdam. So my aim will be to improve my personal best,\u201c said Wilson Chebet.<\/p>\n

For the first time a strong Japanese elite team will compete in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Hiroyuki Yamamoto (PB: 2:09:12 in Tokyo 2017), Akinobou Murasawa (2:09:43 in Tokyo 2018) und Tadashi Isshiki (2:09:47 in Tokyo 2018) hope to further improve on the fast course and their goal is of course to qualify for next year\u2019s Olympic trial race in Japan.<\/p>\n

A number of debutants from East Africa could cause a surprise on Sunday. Among them is Kenya\u2019s Alex Kibet, who has run a world-class time of 59:06 in the half marathon this year in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE).<\/p>\n

One thing is for sure: There will be a new champion of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon crowned on Sunday. Late entry Mark Kiptoo did win the event back in 2014 and features a personal best of 2:06:00. However at the age of 42 he is no longer among the favourites. The Kenyan will chase a different goal in Frankfurt: He hopes to break the world master record. Fellow-Kenyan Kenneth Mungara established this mark two years ago in Milan with 2:08:38.<\/p>\n

Germany’s Arne Gabius will return to the race, where he clocked sub 2:10 times on three occasions and broke the national record in 2015 with 2:08:33. The 37 year-old plans for 65:00 half marathon split time on Sunday. \u201eA time between 2:09 and 2:11 should be possible for me. It would be disappointing to run 2:12 or slower,\u201c said Arne Gabius, whose long-term target is the Olympic marathon in 2020.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s race<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the 2:21:01 course record could come under threat in the women\u2019s race may be there is also a chance for a first sub 2:20 time in Frankfurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe women\u2019s course record should really come under the microscope this time,\u201d said Elite Race Director Christoph Kopp. \u201cWe\u2019ve done our best to put together a really strong women\u2019s field. We hope this leads to a lot of personal bests and, to crown it all, a new course record,\u201d is his ambition. Kopp plans to have two groups with pacemakers, targeting split times of 70:00 and 71:00 for the half marathon.<\/p>\n

Four Ethiopian women are on the start list who have each run under 2:22 with one having cracked the 2:20 barrier: Mare Dibaba, who has twice run her best of 2:19:52. In 2015 victory crowned her World champion in Beijing before she took the bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio the next year.<\/p>\n

Three of Dibaba\u2019s compatriots are likely to be among her strongest rivals. Haftamnesh Tesfay made an impressive debut to her marathon career in Dubai this January with fifth place in 2:20:13. Two places behind Tesfay in Dubai came another Ethiopian debutant, Dera Dida and her impressive showing also makes her appearance in Frankfurt highly anticipated following her 2:21:45 in the United Arab Emirates. Meskerem Assefa finished third in 2:24:38 last year in Frankfurt. She made a solid improvement in winning the Nagoya title in mid-March, running 2:21:45.<\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s Betsy Saina is expected to challenge the Ethiopians. She achieved a breakthrough performance in the marathon this April, winning in Paris with a fine 2:22:56. \u201eMy victory in Paris gave me a lot of confidence. The marathon is a special event, but I will try and take a certain risk. Since my race in Paris I know that the marathon is my event and in Frankfurt I want to improve my time,\u201c said Betsy Saina.<\/p>\n

Local hero Katharina Heinig carries national hopes on Sunday. A year ago she showed an excellent race finishing in eighth place. Her goal is to run exactly one second faster than last year. With 2:29:28 she would improve the German leading time of the year by one second.<\/p>\n

Elite athletes and personal bests:<\/p>\n

Men:<\/strong>
\nWilson Chebet KEN 2:05:27
\nKelkile Gezahegn ETH 2:05:56
\nMark Kiptoo KEN 2:06:00
\nGilbert Yegon KEN 2:06:18
\nNicholas Kamakya KEN 2:06:34
\nMartin Kosgey KEN 2:07:22
\nArne Gabius GER 2:08:33
\nWeldon Kirui KEN 2:09:06
\nHiroyuki Yamamoto JPN 2:09:12
\nWerkunesh Aboye ETH 2:09:25
\nTsedat Ayana ETH 2:09:26
\nTadashi Isshiki JPN 2:09:43
\nAkinobou Murasawa JPN 2:09:47
\nAmos Mitei KEN 2:09:56
\nVincent Yator KEN 2:10:38
\nAlex Kibet KEN Deb\u00fct
\nAsefa Tefera ETH Deb\u00fct
\nKenneth Keter KEN Deb\u00fct<\/p>\n

Women:<\/strong>
\nMare Dibaba ETH 2:19:52
\nHaftamnesh Tesfay ETH 2:20:13
\nDera Dida ETH 2:21:45
\nMeskerem Assefa ETH 2:21:45
\nBetsy Saina KEN 2:22:56
\nValentine Kipketer KEN 2:23:02
\nAbebech Afework ETH 2:23:33
\nStellah Barsosio KEN 2:23:43
\nNancy Kiprop KEN 2:24:18
\nBelaynesh Oljira ETH 2:24:21
\nBedatu Hirpa ETH 2:25:54
\nJanet Rono KEN 2:26:03
\nSara Hall USA 2:26:20
\nWorknesh Mola ETH 2:28:19
\nKatharina Heinig GER 2:28:34
\nSylvia Medugu KEN 2:29:09
\nLindsay Flanagan USA 2:29:28[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”294978″][dhsv_vc_caption text=”Frankfurt this year especially is rich in running talent with 14 men who have broken 2:10 and ten women with personal bests of sub-2:25, making the latter field among the strongest in the event\u2019s 37-year history.”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Frankfurt this year especially is rich in running talent with 14 men who have broken 2:10 and ten women with personal bests of sub-2:25, making the latter field among the strongest in the event\u2019s 37-year history. Top of the women\u2019s marathon charts on lifetime performances is the former World champion Mare Dibaba from Ethiopia, ganzen Artikel lesen…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":707,"featured_media":294978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[362],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[11306,5249,27063,27060,617,15173,11000,584,10937,4751,4727,4661,16331,27066,5255,4556,4484,10943,15185,27069],"class_list":["post-295077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-news"],"acf":[],"newsThumbnail":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mainova-Frankfurt-Marathon_Pdf_1DX_1863_small_--360x202.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/707"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295077"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":295083,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295077\/revisions\/295083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295077"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankfurt-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=295077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}