Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 8/4/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Wilson Kipsang To Run His Second Marathon In Frankfurt On 31st October

Two world-class runners from Kenya are the first signings for this year's 
Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon, which will be staged on 31st October. It 
was announced that Wilson Kipsang will run his second marathon while 
Wilfred Kigen will return once again to his favourite marathon race. The 
Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. Organisers 
of Germany's oldest city marathon expect a record entry of around 13,000 
marathon runners. Online entry is still available at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com

Wilson Kipsang is one of the most promising recent marathon newcomers. The 
28 year-old Kenyan has run his debut in Paris this year. In a high-class 
field he finished third and instantly established a world-class time of 
2:07:13. Now Wilson Kipsang is eager to further improve this time. His 
experience from his debut marathon in April will surely help him while 
additionally the course of the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon is regarded 
as a very fast one.

Before Wilson Kipsang had turned to the marathon he had done very well in 
the half marathon. His personal best stands at 58:59 minutes, which he had 
run in Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) in February 2009. With this 
time he is still the sixth fastest half marathon runner of all times. At 
last year's IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham he placed 
fourth, missing a medal by just eight seconds. Wilson Kipsang should have 
the potential to clearly improve on his 2:07:13 from Paris. This may well 
lead to another great course record at the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon. 
In 2009 Gilbert Kirwa (Kenya) had won the race in 2:06:14.

With more strong Kenyans soon to be signed the Commerzbank Frankfurt 
Marathon even be on the way to a sub 2:06 time on 31st October. One has 
already agreed to return again: Wilfred Kigen has achieved unique success 
in Frankfurt. The former course record holder (2:07:58) had won the 
Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon three times in a row from 2005 to 2007. 
After putting behind some injury problems the 35 year-old returned with a 
win at the Hamburg Marathon in April this year. He clocked 2:09:22 there 
and is now eager to attack his personal best of 2:07:33 at the Commerzbank 
Frankfurt Marathon.

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