Chebet, Saina to lead compatriots in Frankfurt Marathon

Stiff competition is expected in Sunday’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with more than 10 athletes who have run under 2:10 in the men’s category fighting for the top prize, including  Kenya’s three time Amsterdam winner Wilson Chebet.

Chebet, who boasts of the fastest time in the start list (2:05:27) and last year’s runners up Kelkile Gezahegn (Ethiopia) who ran 2:06:56 are expected to lit the contest.

Also joining them in the Germany city are Kenyan duo of Martin Kosgey who has a Personal Best (PB) of 2:07:22 he timed in the 2016 race, where he finished second and Gilbert Yegon (2:06:18).

Arne Gabius of Germany (2:08:33) and Ethiopia’s Bira Seboka (2:08:51) are other competitors making the headlines ahead of the race.

Only athlete

In the women’s category,  Paris Marathon winner Betsy Saina of Kenya (2:22:56) and the 2013 Frankfurt Marathon champion Valentine Kipketer ( 2:23:02) will battle it out with other 10 women who have run below 2:25.

The 2015 World Marathon champion Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia (2:19:52) who is also the only athlete in the start list to run sub 2:20, is also expected to lit the race with Nancy Kiprop (2: 24:18), Janet Rono (2:26:03) and Sylvia Medugu (2:29:09) also chasing the glory.

Three days remain to the 37th edition of the IAAF Gold label race which according to the organizers is expected to attract more than 15,000 entrants.

Men’s field with PBs:

Wilson Chebet          KEN                2:05:27

Kelkile Gezahegn       ETH                2:05:56

Gilbert Yegon             KEN                2:06:18

Martin Kosgey            KEN                2:07:22

Arne Gabius               GER               2:08:33

Bira Seboka                ETH                2:08:51

Weldon Kirui               KEN                2:09:06

Hiroyuki Yamamoto    JPN                2:09:12

Tsedat Abeye Ayana   ETH                2:09:26

Tadashi Isshiki               JPN                2:09:43

Akinobou Murasawa  JPN               2:09:47

Amos Mitei                 KEN                2:09:56

Vincent Yator              KEN                2:10:38

Alex Kibet                   KEN                Debüt

Women:

Mare Dibaba               ETH                2:19:52

Haftamnesh Tesfay    ETH                2:20:13

Dera Dida                   ETH                2:21:45

Meskerem Assefa      ETH                2:21:45

Betsy Saina                KEN                2:22:56

Valentine Kipketer      KEN                2:23:02

Abebech Afework      ETH                2:23:33

Nancy Kiprop              KEN                2:24:18

Belaynesh Oljira         ETH                2:24:21

Reia Iwade                 JPN                2:24:38