The 42nd edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will once again present a high quality field on the start line on Sunday. The Ethiopian Shura Kitata and Magdalyne Masai from Kenya lead the elite entry of the prominent German race with personal bests of 2:04:09 and 2:18:58 respectively. Masai is the fastest woman ever to compete in Frankfurt and the elite women’s field in general is the strongest in the event’s history. The Ethiopian Buze Diriba has such confidence in her prospects that she will go for the women’s course record of 2:17:25 if weather conditions are suitable.
One record has already been achieved: almost 17,000 runners have registered. This is the biggest entry in the history of Germany’s oldest city marathon. “This year the demand was overwhelming,” said Race Director Jo Schindler. “The fact that every possible starting place has been taken is proof of our marathon’s attraction. We look forward to a celebration of sport with spine-tingling moments, lots of emotion and thrilling elite races.”
Men’s Race
The elite men’s race promises to be a thriller. Regardless of whether the wind on Sunday plays a role, world-class performances are possible. Philipp Kopp, the Elite Race Coordinator for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, expects an open race: “There are no clear favourites. The elite is packed with talent, I expect that, given good conditions, several athletes could run in the region of 2:05.”
Heading the elite field is Shura Kitata from Ethiopia, the 2017 Frankfurt winner. His personal best of 2:04:49 and success such as winning the London Marathon in 2020 make him one of the top names on the marathon scene. The 29-year-old also achieved podium finishes in New York in 2022 and the following year, proving his pedigree though his most recent performances have been below par. “The win in Frankfurt back then gave me a lot of confidence,” reflected Kitata. “I am healthy, fit and in top form – my level of performance is similar to when I won in London.”
Among the group of men on the Frankfurt start list who have already broken 2:08:00 is Dejena Megersa, who could be one contender to watch in particular. Although he is only 20, the Ethiopian has already several strong marathon performances to his credit. In Dubai in 2024 he ran his best time to date of 2:05:42. Dejena Megersa belong’s to the extremely strong training group of Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Abeba. Among his training partners is the Olympic Marathon Champion Tamirat Tola. Another challenger from Ethiopia is Yasin Haji who comes to Frankfurt with strong displays over 10k on both road and track. His marathon best is 2:09:52, achieved this year in Rabat in Morocco. He is clearly capable on improving that time.
One of the German contingent might also play a role: Filimon Abraham hopes to take a considerable slice off his personal best of 2:08:11 on Frankfurt’s renowned fast course. “I have trained for four months and it has gone well. The past six weeks I spent in high altitude in Eritrea. I think I am in the best form of my marathon career,” said the 32-year-old.
Women’s Race
Three of the elite women have every right to be considered the main favourites: Magdalyne Masai and Sharon Chelimo from Kenya and Buze Diriba of Ethiopia. Each one could run under 2:20 on Sunday, thus adding to the long established excellence of the elite field here.
For Magdalyne Masai, this will be her third appearance in Frankfurt. Last year she finished second, improving her best to 2:18:58. The heat at the World Championship marathon in Tokyo in August proved too much for her but she is now determined to make up for that disappointment: “I hope that my third start here will at last bring victory and I am targeting another personal best.”
Sharon Chelimo also knows the Frankfurt course well – in 2023 she finished third. In this year’s spring marathon season the Kenyan won the Barcelona title in a personal best of 2:19:33. “My aim is to run a good marathon, I am ready,” announced Chelimo, who had to drop out of last month’s Berlin Marathon when the weather turned unusually warm. “It’s not so easy, when you have dropped out – it was the worst experience in my career. But I have trained well and feel fresh for a new attempt.”
Buze Diriba hopes to upset her Kenyan rivals and targets a major victory. The 31 year-old Ethiopian, whose best is 2:20:22, is eying the women’s course record, set by her training partner Hawi Feysa last year of 2:17:25.
“Hawi has told me about the fast course in Frankfurt. I have trained well and look forward to my first ever road race in Germany,” said Buze Diriba. She is part of the successful training group led by coach Gemedu Dedefo which includes the former world record holder Tigst Assefa (2:11:53) and the 2023 World champion Amane Beriso. A late edition to the elite women’s field is Germany’s Laura Hottenrott. Her best is 2:24:32 and the 2024 Olympic marathon participant is the fastest European woman entered. She may well be challenged by Abbie Donnelly of Great Britain who has a PB of 2:26:21.
Elite Runners with Personal Bests
MEN:
Shura Kitata ETH 2:04:49
Dejene Megersa ETH 2:05:42
Kipkemoi Kiprono KEN 2:06:45
Belay Asfaw ETH 2:07:00
Getachew Masresha ETH 2:07:04
Stanley Rono KEN 2:07:05
Kirbrom Habtu ETH 2:07:05
Filimon Abraham GER 2:08:11
Edwin Kibichiy KEN 2:08:29
Benson Murkomen KEN 2:08:35
Timothy Misoi KEN 2:08:38
Vincent Mutai KEN 2:09:09
Therence Bizosa BDI 2:09:18
Yismaw Yitayew ETH 2:09:32
Yasin Haji ETH 2:09:52
Lulu Negera ETH 2:09:54
Tom Thurley GER 2:12:45
Jan Lukas Becker GER 2:15:20
Taresa Bekuma ETH Debüt
Diriba Girma ETH Debüt
WOMEN:
Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:18:58
Sharon Chelimo KEN 2:19:33
Buze Diriba ETH 2:20:22
Linet Masai KEN 2:21:01
Tsige Haileslase ETH 2:22:10
Catherine Cherotich KEN 2:22:42
Urge Diro ETH 2:23:05
Stacy Ndiwa KEN 2:23:29
Betty Chepkemoi KEN 2:24:14
Laura Hottenrott GER 2:24:32
Abbie Donnelly GBR 2:26:21
Ayinadis Teshome ETH 2:27:58
Tegest Ymer ETH 2:29:27
Pascaline Kibiwott KEN 2:29:47
Katharina Saathoff GER 2:35:08
Yalemget Yaregal ETH Debüt
Ayal Dagnachew ETH Debüt
Further information and online registration is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
Please note: The attached photo, showing Buze Diriba, Sharon Chelimo, Magdalyne Masai, Filimon Abraham, Shura Kitata and Dejene Megersa, can only be used in association with this press release and with the following credit: Victah Sailer
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