Chelimo, Masai headline strongest Frankfurt women's field in history
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 02.10.25. | 07:00
A year ago, Ethiopian Hawi Feysa set a sensational course record with a time of 2:17:25
The 42nd edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, set for 26 October, has assembled the strongest elite women's field in the event's history.
Seven runners will enter the race with personal bests of under 2:23:00, with one of them having even run under 2:20:00, Kenya's Sharon Chelimo, who leads the start list with a personal best of 2:19:33.
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"We are delighted that we were able to secure Chelimo at short notice. We now have an exceptionally strong women's field at the start, so we can expect an exciting and fast race," said race director Jo Schindler.
There's a strong case to suggest that women will once again be the highlight of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. A year ago, Ethiopian Hawi Feysa set a sensational course record with a time of 2:17:25.
While the mark might be too quick for the Kenyan to challenge, Chelimo has achieved her breakthrough this spring with a surprise victory at the Barcelona Marathon. She ran her first sub-2:20:00 time of 2:19:33, improving her time by two and a half minutes and could lower that time further in the German capital.
Etagegne Woldu (personal best: 2:20:03), Buze Diriba (2:20:22), Aminet Ahmed (2:21:24), Tsige Haileslase (all Ethiopia/2:22:10), as well as Kenyans Linet Masai (2:21:01) and Catherine Cherotich (2:22:42) are the other runners who have already run sub-2:23:00.
Also worth watching is the sensational winner of the Vienna City Marathon, Betty Chepkemoi (2:24:14).
Two debutants, Ethiopians Ayal Dagnachew and Yalemget Yaregal, with good half marathon times of 67:08 and 66:27 minutes, respectively, add to the depth.
No runner from the currently rather thin German women's elite is competing in Frankfurt.
