Stars target fast times in Frankfurt Marathon

Kenya's Betsy Saina celebrates as she places first in the Women's Group during the 42nd edition of the Paris Marathon on April 8, 2018 in Paris. / AFP PHOTO / Eric FEFERBERG Kenya's Paul Lonyangata celebrates after winning the 42nd edition of the Paris Marathon yesterday. [AFP]

Chebet, Kosgey and Saina to lead Kenyan onslaught this morning.

With fields boasting 14 men who have dipped under 2:10 and ten women with sub-2:25 credentials, the 37th Frankfurt Marathon showdown this morning will no doubt send adrenaline pulse racing.

In men’s race, Frankfurt will feature a contest between two previous runners-up, setting Ethiopian Kelkile Gezahegn against the Kenyan Martin Kosgey. Gezahegn ran 2:06:56 in Frankfurt for second place last year and then improved to 2:05:56 for third place in Rotterdam in the spring. Kosgey ran his Personal Best of 2:07:22 to finish second in the 2016 edition.

While Kosgey plans to go with the first group so does Wilson Chebet, the three-time Amsterdam winner (2011-2013) who has done some training runs together with Frankfurt’s course record holder and former world record holder Wilson Kipsang.

“We talked about Frankfurt shortly before I travelled here and Wilson gave me some advice,” Chebet said. “He said Frankfurt is great for fast times and that the course is even faster than the one in Amsterdam. So my aim will be to improve my personal best.”

For the first time. Frankfurt will feature a strong Japanese elite team. Hiroyuki Yamamoto (PB: 2:09:12 in Tokyo 2017), Akinobou Murasawa (2:09:43 in Tokyo 2018) and Tadashi Isshiki (2:09:47 in Tokyo 2018) hope to further improve on the fast course with the ultimate goal of qualifying for next year’s Olympic trial race in Japan. 

A number of debutants from East Africa could spring a surprise today. Among them is Kenya’s Alex Kibet, who has run a world-class 59:06 at this Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.

The field includes four Ethiopians who have run under 2:22 with one, Mare Dibaba, having cracked the 2:20 barrier with a pair of 2:19:52 performances to her credit. In 2015 she took the world title in Beijing before taking Olympic bronze the following year.

Three of Dibaba’s compatriots are likely to be among her strongest rivals. Haftamnesh Tesfay made an impressive debut over the distance in Dubai in January, clocking 2:20:13. Two places behind Tesfay in Dubai came another Ethiopian debutant, Dera Dida, who clocked 2:21:45. Meskerem Assefa finished third in 2:24:38 last year in Frankfurt and made solid improvement in winning the Nagoya title in mid-March, running 2:21:45.

Kenya’s Betsy Saina is expected to challenge. She produced a breakthrough performance in April, winning the Paris Marathon with a fine 2:22:56.

“The marathon is a special event, but I will try and take a certain risk. Since my race in Paris I know that the marathon is my event and in Frankfurt I want to improve my time,” said Saina.

Meanwhile Kenya’s Philip Kangogo Cheruiyot will line up in the 33rd Huawei Venice Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label road race, today.

Kangogo, who clocked his 2:08:16 career best at the 2015 Barcelona Marathon, faces Kipkemei Mutai, who has a 2:10:16 best and John Komen.