Amanal Petros, Samuel Fitwi and Richard Ringer will face strong challengers at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 25 October. The three fastest German marathon runners of all times, who will compete together in a city marathon for the first time, will be in a field that features the winner of the 2024 race: Benard Biwott returns to Frankfurt. A number of international elite runners for the women’s field were also announced. Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer heads the start list and is one of three runners who have personal bests of sub 2:20:00. Germany’s Blanka Dörfel will run her marathon debut on 25 October.
“Obviously there will be much focus on our three German top runners in Frankfurt on 25 October. However we are not presenting them a victory on a plate. They will be challenged by a strong field,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.
Benard Biwott can still be considered a newcomer in the marathon. The 24 year-old Kenyan has only run three races over the classic distance. Two years ago he ran his debut at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon and caused an upset when he took the race with 2:05:54. Benard Biwott then won his second marathon as well: In spring 2025 he triumphed in Paris with his current PB of 2:05:25. This year the Kenyan was ninth in Cape Town.
Andualem Belay and Haimro Alame are two other runners who could do very well in Frankfurt. With a personal best of 2:04:44 Ethiopia’s Belay is the second-fastest runner in the field behind the German record-holder Amanal Petros (PB: 2:04:03) and ahead of Samuel Fitwi (2:04:45) as well as Richard Ringer (2:04:47). Alame, who is originally from Ethiopia but competes for Israel, has a personal best of 2:06:04 and was fourth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
The fastest woman on the start list is Zeineba Yimer. The Ethiopian improved to 2:18:47 this spring, finishing third at the Barcelona Marathon. Three years ago the 28-year-old won the race in Spain and then finished fourth in Berlin.
Betsy Saina (USA/2:19:17) and Buzunesh Getachew (Ethiopia/2:19:27) are the other two athletes on the start list with personal bests of sub 2:20:00. Both are already familiar with the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Whilst Saina finished eighth here in 2018, Getachew is the winner from 2023. She also clocked her current PB in Frankfurt three years ago. A runner to watch on 25 October is Marion Kibor of Kenya who improved to 2:21:12 in Hamburg this spring.
Further information is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
Please note: The attached photo showing Benard Biwott winning in Frankfurt in 2024 can only be used in association with this press release and with the following credit: Victah Sailer
Biwott_BenardFH-Frankfurt24.JPG
