FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30:
High Class Elite Field marks Frankfurt's Return
The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will take place on October 30 for the first
time since 2019. Among the men's elite are three contenders with personal
bests of under 2:06 which points to a high-quality race in prospect. The
Ethiopian Betesfa Getahun is the fastest runner in the field at present
with a best of 2:05:28. Also on the start line will be the German runner
Filimon Abraham from theTelis Finanz Regensburg club. The organisers of the
race, which will end in its traditional, spectacular fashion in Frankfurt's
Festhalle, expect to have around 12,000 marathon runners for the 39th
edition of the event. The race is an Elite Label Road Race, a distinction
awarded by World Athletics, the world governing body of athletics. Entries
are still available at www.frankfurt-marathon.com
"We are delighted that the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is back after a
two-year interruption because of the Corona Pandemic – with strong elite
fields, a big number of mass runners and all the emotions which we have
experienced in the past," says the Race Director Jo Schindler. "We'll
experience the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon just as it's always been: a big
start and thrilling run-in to the finish in the Festhalle in front of
thousands of spectators. Our aim is to create a unique running experience
for mass and elite competitors alike and to see many beaming faces at the
end of race day."
The organisers have now announced part of the men's elite field while
recruiting for the women's race continues and the elite women's field will
be announced at a later date. An up-and-coming Ethiopian is the fastest man
on the start list: Betesfa Getahun is 23 and made his marathon debut in
2019 with an impressive, high-quality performance, running 2:05:28 for
fourth place in Amsterdam. The Mainova Frankfurt will be his fourth race at
the distance for the runner whose pedigree includes a strong showing in
sixth place at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia.
The other runner, who has already gone under 2:06, is also from Ethiopia
and is just 21: Gebru Redahgne is a newcomer to running at international
level, running outside of his homeland for the first time only last year
when he finished second in the Cape Town Marathon in 2:10:17. He made a
massive improvement this year in Barcelona where he ran 2:05:58 for another
second place finish and only five seconds behind the winner. Gebru Redahgne
wants to take full advantage of Frankfurt's fast course to improve his
personal best still further.
A runner from Kenya is making his return to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon
where he has more than once impressed with the quality of his performances.
Martin Kosgey twice finished second in the Festhalle, in 2016 and 2018, as
well as taking fourth place on two more occasions, 2017 and 2019. Frankfurt
was where the 33-year-old set what remains his personal best of 2:06:41.
The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30 will be his first race in a
year when he produced a solid performance to finish runner-up in Eindhoven
in 2:06:56.
Since almost every German runner at top level were involved in either the
World or European Championships this summer, almost none of them will be
competing in Frankfurt. An exception is Filimon Abraham of the Telis Finanz
Regensburg club who has the potential to join the leading ranks of
Germany's marathoners. After failing to finish on his marathon debut in
Hamburg in April, the 29-year-old, who finished 19th in the 10,000m at the
European Championships in Munich in August, is renewing his marathon quest
on Frankfurt's fast course.
More Information and online entry are available at:
www.frankfurt-marathon.com
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