Aiyabei smashes course record in Frankfurt

Valary Aiyabei on Sunday cruised to a course record win in the 2019 edition of the Frankfurt marathon.

Aiyabei, the 2018 Beijing marathon champion, braved the rainy conditions in Frankfurt to clock 2:19:10, smashing the course record.

Following the victory, Aiyabei becomes the first woman to run sub 2:20 in the German race.

She was followed by Ethiopians Kebede Megertu, who ran 2:21:10 and Meskerem Assefa, who finished in 2:22:11.

Aiyabei, who trains in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County stuck to a steady pace, leading from gun to tape and proved too strong for the Ethiopian duo.

Valary Aiyabei leads in 42KM women race during Eldoret City Marathon in Uasin Ngishu County on April 21, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

She shaved one minute, 26 seconds off the one-year-old course record of 2:20:36 set by Ethiopia's Meskerem Assefa.

Aiyabei's compatriot Caroline Rotich was fifth in a time of 2:24:42.

Other Kenyan women Lonar Chemtai and Cheptanui Rotich finished fourth and fifth respectively, timing 02:23:11 and 02:24:42 in the race.

Her historic course record in Frankfurt comes two years after the 28-year-old stamped her authority at the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, breaking the course record in 2:21:57.

Just five weeks before the 2017 Prague win, Aiyabei had finished fourth at the Prague Half Marathon in 1:07:50 behind her compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei, who broke the world record in that race.

Last year, an enduring Aiyabei lived up to expectations at the Beijing Marathon where she became the first Kenyan woman winner at the IAAF Gold Label event, hitting the finish line in 2:21:38.

The men's race was, however, disappointing for Kenyan runners. Martin Kosgey finished fourth after losing gas in the last one kilometer, giving Ethiopians Bekele Terefa and Arega Dawit a chance to sprint away to finish top and second.

Bekele clocked 2:07:08, two seconds ahead of his compatriot Arega as Ayalew Yimer of Bahrain closed the podium in a time of 2:07:12.