Rotich and Chekole head strong elite fields in Frankfurt
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 24.10.24. | 13:02
The women are expected to attack Valary Aiyabei's course record of 2:19:10 set in 2019
Kenya's Elisha Rotich and Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole head the elite field of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon set for Sunday 27 October.
Rotich has a personal best (PB) of 2:04:21, while Chekole’s best mark stands at 2:21:17.
A number of athletes had to cancel their start recently due to either injury or visa problems. Among them are Ethiopians Herpasa Negasa and Tigist Abayechew as well as Eric Kiptanui of Kenya.
The men’s start list now features four runners with personal bests of sub 2:07:00 and another ten who have run below 2:10:00.
While the leading men will probably run a 2:05 pace and organisers hope that a winning time slightly below that mark might be possible, the women could produce the highlight at the 41st edition of Germany’s oldest city marathon.
The women are expected to attack the course record of Valary Aiyabei. The Kenyan ran 2:19:10 in 2019. Five women have entered the race featuring PB's of sub 2:23.
Chekole's challenge is expected to come from compatriot Shuko Genemo, a 2:21:35 runner. The Kenyan charge is led by Magdalyne Masai who holds a 2:22:16 PB with Betty Chepkwony, who is just two seconds off sub 2:23 and Agnes Keino (2:23:26) also expected to challenge for a podium place.
Additionally Ethiopia’s Hawi Feiysa might do very well. She currently has a PB of 2:23:36. But her half marathon time of 65:41 suggests that she should be able to run much faster.
Tom Thurley and Laura Hottenrott lead the domestic challenge in Frankfurt. Thurley was second in this year’s national championships with 2:14:52 and Hottenrott ran 2:24:32 in Valencia a year ago. She competed in the Olympic marathon in Paris and finished 38th.
Elite Fields:
MEN
Elisha Rotich KEN 2:04:21
Lencho Tesfaye ETH 2:06:18
Aychew Bantie ETH 2:06:23
Birhan Nebebew ETH 2:06:52
Gossa Challa ETH 2:07:43
Workneh Serbessa ETH 2:07:58
Abdelaziz Merzougui ESP 2:08:00
Gerba Dibaba ETH 2:08:25
Jake Robertson NZL 2:08:26
Belay Bezabeh ETH 2:08:58
Ebba Chala SWE 2:09:06
Reuben Narry KEN 2:09:06
Bernard Muia KEN 2:09:17
Vincent Ronoh KEN 2:09:21
Tom Thurley GER 2:14:52
Jonathan Dahlke GER 2:15:42
Jan Lukas Becker GER Debüt
WOMEN
Yeshi Chekole ETH 2:21:17
Shuko Genemo ETH 2:21:35
Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:22:16
Kidsan Alema ETH 2:22:28
Meseret Dinke ETH 2:22:52
Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:23:02
Agnes Keino KEN 2:23:26
Hawi Feiysa ETH 2:23:36
Linet Masai KEN 2:23:46
Laura Hottenrott GER 2:24:32
Tadelech Nedi ETH 2:26:23
Georgina Schwiening GBR 2:26:28
Aberash Korsa ETH 2:29:04
