Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 9/13/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  MAINOVA FRANKFURT MARATHON ON OCTOBER 29:
				  
           Title holder Mark Korir returns for Frankfurt Round Two

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29 will offer round two of a 
contest which produced a thrilling encounter a year ago. The full set of 
podium finishers in the men's race has been brought together by the 
organizers for a re-match. The title holder Mark Korir will race against 
his fellow Kenyans Martin Kosgey and Cybrian Kotut who finished second and 
third in 2016.

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label race with up to 15,000 
runners. Online entry is still available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com

"On 29 in Frankfurt it will be a case of: Game on, everyone starts level," 
said the race director Jo Schindler and added: "It's very unusual to be 
able to re-unite the entire podium on the start line, one year on. It's 
given us the chance to assemble what should be a fascinating contest."

Mark Korir has won a significant marathon title in each of the past two 
years. In 2015 he triumphed in Paris with what remains his personal best of 
2:05:49 and a year later won the Frankfurt title in 2:06:48. The 
32-year-old returns to the race beside the River Main with a strong 
marathon already under his belt this spring when he finished third in Seoul 
with a high class run of 2:06:05. But the Kenyan is still without a victory 
in 2017, though he is confident of running under 2:05 one day.

Martin Kosgey sprang a surprise in the 2016 edition of the Mainova 
Frankfurt Marathon by finishing second with a big improvement on his 
personal best. He went into the race with a lifetime best of 2:09:50 and 
emerged as Mark Korir's toughest opponent, crossing the line in the 
Festhalle in 2:07:22. He is intent upon making further inroads on his best 
time on the fast Frankfurt course.

Cybrian Kotut has marathon running in his blood. The 25-year-old is the 
younger brother by 14 years of the former world class runner Martin Lel, 
winner of three London and two New York titles. Kotut has already won an 
important marathon, taking Paris in 2016 with 2:07:11. He wasn't far 
outside his personal best when he ran 2:07:28 for third in Frankfurt last 
year. Taking advice from his distinguished older brother, Kotut is another 
who will aim to improve still further and Frankfurt will be an ideal venue 
for him.

The European contingent has been strengthened with the recruitment of 
Henryk Szost of Poland, whose best is 2:07:39. He will join the German 
record holder Arne Gabius on start line. The latter ran 2:08:33 to break 
the national record in Frankfurt two years ago. As for Szost, he hasn't 
quite matched his best form recently so, like Arne Gabius, Frankfurt will 
provide him with the chance to regain that level of performance.

More Information and online entry is available at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

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