FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vincent Kipruto and Caroline Kilel Make It
A Kenyan Day In Frankfurt's Stormy Weather
Kenyans Vincent Kipruto and Caroline Kilel triumphed in the 32nd BMW
Frankfurt Marathon, where stormy and wet weather ruined hopes for record
performances. Kipruto braved high winds to clock 2:06:15, beating
fellow-Kenyan and debutant Mark Kiptoo by just one second. Elijah Kemboi
finished third with 2:07:34. The women's race also produced good
performances where Caroline Kilel ran a personal best of 2:22:34, achieving
her second Frankfurt victory following success in 2010. Flomena
Chepchirchir (Kenya/2:23:00) and Ethiopia's Birhane Dibaba (2:23:01) were
second and third across the finish line in the splendid setting of
Frankfurt's Festival Hall. 14,964 runners from 96 nations entered the BMW
Frankfurt Marathon, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
The elite fields going into the race revealed unprecedented strength in
depth for a marathon in Germany with five runners with personal bests of
2:05:30 and three women who had run sub 2:22 awaiting the starting gun. But
with wind speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour, corresponding to 6 to 7
on the Beaufort scale, any prospect of achieving fast times soon
disappeared.
A group of 14 runners reached the half way mark in 63:06, around 45 seconds
slower than planned. Time and again they were strung out like a string of
pearls, running behind each other in an attempt to shelter from the wind.
The fact that there was no pacemaker still in the race made it even more
difficult. At least one was supposed to run to 30 k. "I was surprised that
there was no pacemaker left after half way. But we made our own pace," said
Vincent Kipruto, who was leading a group of six runners at the 30 k mark
(1:29:21). There were still hopes for a finishing time of around 2:05 since
the next seven kilometres were supposed to be a section with tailwind. "But
the wind swirled and there was no wind from the back," said Christoph Kopp,
the elite race coordinator.
With Kipruto and his fellow Kenyans Gilbert Kirwa, Lani Rutto, Mark Kiptoo,
Jacob Chesari and Levy Matebo Omari forming the first group the expected
Ethiopian challenge never materialised. Feyisa Lilesa looked fine in the
first half, but then he fell behind due to a back problem and finally
dropped out at 37 k. His fellow Ethiopian Dino Sefir, the fastest in the
field with 2:04:50, had lost contact to the first group before half way.
But at least he made it to the finish, taking seventh position with
2:09:22.
Vincent Kipruto then pushed the pace between 32 and 34 kilometres. He left
all but one rival behind: Mark Kiptoo. The 37 year-old ran his marathon
debut on Sunday and staged a major surprise by running with Kipruto for 42
k. Shortly before they entered the Festival Hall, Kipruto made the decisive
break. He crossed the line in 2:06:15, just one second ahead of Kiptoo. "He
was strong, so I had to watch him and decided to wait until the final
moment with my attack," said Vincent Kipruto, who had hoped to improve his
PB of 2:05:13. "The goal was to run sub 2:05. But I am still happy."
Kenyans took the first five places and continued their impressive Frankfurt
winning streak, which began back in 2002.
"I have spoken to a number of athletes and coaches. And we think that the
wind probably cost us around one and a half minutes. Additionally the
pacemaking in the men's race was terrible today," said Christoph Kopp. "It
was different with the women. They were better protected from the wind by
their pacemakers." Indeed with five women running sub 2:24 this marked
unprecedented depth in any German marathon.
Six women reached the half way mark in 71:10 minutes, only slightly slower
than planned. Flomena Chepchirchir, Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa, Caroline Kilel
(all Kenya), Mamitu Daska, Tirfi Tsegaye Beyene and debutant Gelete Burka
(all Ethiopia) formed this group. Burka's hopes of making a major impact in
her first marathon soon began to fade. She started to lose ground before
25k and finished 12th with 2:30:40. The other five were still together at
35k. Then Caroline Kilel began to build a lead before 40 k.
"I wanted to run 2:21, but with the wind and rain, this wasn't possible,"
said Caroline Kilel. "But I am very happy, because I managed to improve my
personal best by two seconds. It was my second race in Frankfurt and my
second personal best here. I want to come back in 2014."
Results (including bib numbers):
Men:
1 Vincent Kipruto (KEN / # 4) 2:06:15
2 Mark Kiptoo (KEN / # 64) 2:06:16
3 Elijah Kemboi (KEN / # 15) 2:07:34
4 Jacob Chesari (KEN / # 19) 2:07:46
5 Albert Matebor (KEN / # 6) 2:08:17
6 Feyisa Bekele (ETH / # 9) 2:09:17
7 Dino Sefir (ETH / # 3) 2:09:22
8 Lani Rutto (KEN / # 65) 2:10:01
Women:
1 Caroline Kilel (KEN / # F5) 2:22:34
2 Flomena Chepchirchir (KEN / # F8) 2:23:00
3 Birhane Dibaba (ETH / # F6) 2:23:01
4 Mamitu Daska (ETH / # F4) 2:23:23
5 Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa (KEN / # F3) 2:23:45
6 Yeshi Esayias (ETH / # F9) 2:24:06
7 Tirfi Tsegaye Beyene (ETH / # F2) 2:26:57
8 Anna Hahner (GER / # F20) 2:27:55
More information is available at: www.bmw-frankfurt-marathon.com
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