Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 10/19/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                MAINOVA FRANKFURT MARATHON ON OCTOBER 29:
        Getu Feleke is top of the charts in build-up for Frankfurt

Getu Feleke is the man with the fastest credentials going into the Mainova 
Frankfurt Marathon on October 29. The 30-year-old Ethiopian has a highly 
impressive best of 2:04:50 and also ran a superb course record of 2:05:41 
in the 2014 Vienna City Marathon. His compatriot Feyse Tadese is the 
fastest starter in the women's field with the world class time of 2:20:27. 
The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon has been adding to its elite field in recent 
weeks and the full field has now been announced. In total the organizers 
expect around 14,500 participants for this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Half a dozen male athletes on the current start list have personal bests of 
under 2:08 and three more, including Germany's national record holder Arne 
Gabius with 2:08:33, have broken 2:10.

Frankfurt will mark a return to action after a lengthy break because of 
injury for Getu Feleke. Among his rivals will be the defending champion 
Mark Korir of Kenya, who ran 2:06:48 for victory last year and has a best 
of 2:05:49, making him the second fastest man in the field. Back with an 
aim of moving one place higher on the podium is last year's runner-up 
Martin Kosgey of Kenya, whose best is 2:07:22. One name missing is the 
runner who finished third in 2016 since fellow Kenyan Cybrian Kotut is 
injured.

Seven women among the elite field have broken 2:25, setting the stage for 
what is likely to be another thrilling contest. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenyan 
won the Olympic 5,000m title in Rio in 2016 but is now concentrating on 
road racing. She ran 2:23:50 on her marathon debut and will face five 
rivals who have run faster. Fastest among them is Feyse Tadese: the 
28-year-old Ethiopian has a best of 2:20:27 for second place in Berlin in 
2015 and also finished fourth in London earlier in the same year. Also to 
be reckoned with should be Fate Tola of Germany, runner-up last year who 
has a best of 2:25:14.

Selected elite athletes with personal bests

Men:
Getu Feleke ETH 2:04:50
Mark Korir KEN 2:05:49
Martin Kosgey KEN 2:07:22
Shure Kitata Tola ETH 2:07:28
Kelkile Gezahegn ETH 2:07:29
Henryk Szost POL 2:07:39
Arne Gabius GER 2:08:33
Mark Lokwanamoi KEN 2:08:39
Afewerk Mesfin ETH 2:09:49
Raymond Chemungor KEN 2:10:06
Jared Shegumo POL 2:10:34
Abdelhadi El Hachimi BEL 2:10:35
William Ngelel KEN 2:10:50
Artur Kozlowski POL 2:10:58

Women: 
Feyse Tadese ETH 2:20:27
Yebrgual Melese ETH 2:22:51
Merima Mohammed BRN 2:23:06
Guteni Shone ETH 2:23:32
Abebech Afework ETH 2:23:33
Vivian Cheruiyot KEN 2:23:50
Meskerem Assefa ETH 2:24:18
Fate Tola GER 2:25:14
Sara Hall USA 2:28:26
Katharina Heinig GER 2:28:34

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

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