Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 7/24/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   Vincent Kipruto, Gilbert Kirwa and Caroline Kilel Will Run Frankfurt

Two former champions will return to the BMW Frankfurt Marathon while the 
silver medallist of the World Championships' Marathon from Daegu (South 
Korea) 2011 has also been confirmed for the race on 27th October. Gilbert 
Kirwa won Germany's oldest city marathon in 2009. He established a course 
record of 2:06:14, which has been significantly lowered to 2:03:42 in the 
meantime. One of his toughest rivals will be fellow-Kenyan Vincent Kipruto, 
who won the silver medal on global stage two years ago and has a superb 
personal best of 2:05:13. The women's race will feature a former winner and 
course record holder as well: Kenya's Caroline Kilel took the race in 2010 
with 2:23:25 and then went on to win the Boston Marathon in 2011. With bib 
numbers still available organisers expect around 15,000 runners to take 
part in the 32nd edition of the BMW Frankfurt Marathon, which is an IAAF 
Gold Label Road Race.

Kirwa's winning time from Frankfurt in 2009 still remains his personal 
best. A series of injuries hampered his development. But in 2012 the 
Kenyan, who hopes to reach times of 2:04 during his career, came back 
promisingly. Kirwa finished fourth in Vienna with 2:08:09 and then took 
third in the BMW Frankfurt Marathon with 2:07:35. The only two in front of 
him were world record holder Patrick Makau (Kenya) and Ethiopia's Deressa 
Chimsa. This year Kirwa had a fine performance in the Tokyo Marathon. The 
27 year-old ran 2:08:17 for sixth place in a very competitive field. When 
he now returns to the venue of his biggest success he will be eager to run 
much faster.

Vincent Kipruto has been among Kenyas strongest marathon runners for some 
years. From 2009 to 2011 he clocked sub 2:06 times on three occasions. 
First he won the Paris Marathon in 2009 with 2:05:47, then he improved to 
2:05:13 for a third place in Rotterdam in 2010 and when returning to the 
Dutch race he was second with 2:05:33 in 2011. Two years ago he also 
represented Kenya for the first and only time so far, bringing home a 
marathon silver medal from the World Championships. The BMW Frankfurt 
Marathon will be his first race in Germany's financial capital. With the 
course record of 2:03:42 just four seconds away from the world record, 
Kipruto knows that this could be a great opportunity for another very fast 
time. He has done well this spring, winning the Otsu Marathon in Japan with 
2:08:34.

Two runners who have clocked their personal bests at the BMW Frankfurt 
Marathon will return in October as well: Jonstone Maiyo (Kenya/2:10:03 in 
2011) and Austria's record holder Günther Weidlinger (2:10:47 in 2009).

After a period of ups and downs in the past 18 months Caroline Kilel 
intends to be in top shape when she returns to Frankfurt. This is the place 
where she won with a course record of 2:23:25 three years ago. Her 
performance was a stepping stone towards the Boston Marathon, where she 
triumphed half a year later with 2:22:36 (still her personal best). 
Returning to Frankfurt Kilel will be among the favourites to take a second 
title. But competition at Germany's number two marathon behind Berlin is 
expected to be tough. More elite runners will be announced at a later 
stage.

Information and online entry is available at: www.bmw-frankfurt-marathon.com

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