Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 8/27/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 27th October:

  Negasa, Kiptanui, Masai and Abayechew look for new momentum in Frankfurt

A group of athletes who have achieved world-class results in different 
events in the past want to use the fast course of the Mainova Frankfurt 
Marathon to give their careers new momentum. Among the runners targeting 
fast times is Ethoipia's Herpasa Negasa, who became the eighth fastest ever 
at the Dubai Marathon 2019, and Kenya's 2009 World 10,000m Champion Linet 
Masai. The 41st edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 27th October 
is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. Organisers expect a total of 
over 25,000 athletes for their event, among them around 12,000 marathon 
runners. Entries are still accepted at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

"We look forward to another high-class race which could well produce 
surprises. After achieving the fastest combined winning time in the history 
of our race last year we are eager to see what will be possible on 27th 
October," said Race Director Jo Schindler.

Herpasa Negasa achieved a breakthrough at the Dubai Marathon 2019, when the 
Ethiopian was runner-up in a world-class time of 2:03:40. Two years ago he 
clocked another very good time in Seoul where he ran 2:04:49 and placed 
second once more. Now the 30 year-old intends to reach those levels again. 
Herpasa Negasa belongs to what currently is probably the world's strongest 
marathon training group. Coached by Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa Olympic 
Champion Tamirat Tola and current Boston winner Sisay Lemma are among his 
training partners.

Eric Kiptanui will be among Herpasa Negasa's strongest challengers. As a 
newcomer he immediately established himself as one of the fastest half 
marathon runners of 2018. First the Kenyan took the Lisbon Half Marathon, 
then he ran a 58:42 course record in Berlin that still stands today. During 
a Corona lockdown he won one of very few high-class marathon races in 
Siena, Italy, in 2021 with 2:05:47. Despite fine results in Chicago 2021 
(3rd) and Boston 2022 (5th) he could not yet improve his time from Siena. 
After a weaker year in 2023 the 34 year-old now wants to bounce back in 
Frankfurt.

For Linet Masai the Mainova Frankfurt-Marathon could be one of her last 
chances and may be the best one to achieve a late breakthrough in the 
marathon. The 34 year-old is the 10,000m World Champion from 2009 and won 
an Olympic bronze medal over this distance in 2008. From 2009 to 2011 she 
took three silver medals in a row in the highly competitive World Cross 
Country Championships. However after a fine 2:23:46 debut in Amsterdam in 
2018 (without the benefit of the new shoe technology) she was not able to 
build on this performance. In Frankfurt Linet Masai wants to finally break 
her PB. 

Tigist Abayechew will be among the favourites on 27th October. Two years 
ago the 30 year-old Ethiopian smashed her personal best and improved to 
2:18:03 for third place. After a break due to an injury she came back with 
a ninth place in Tokyo this March. Tigist Abayechew will now want to cross 
the line first in Frankfurt's indoor finish at the Festhalle.

Further information and online registration is available at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

                                     ###