Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 9/19/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 27
 
     Valary Jemeli, Alemu Kebede and Stephanie Twell have potential 
                       to surprise in Frankfurt
 
Two women who could be about to produce a world class time of around 2:20 
are among the favourites for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday, 
October 27: Valary Jemeli of Kenya has a best of 2:20:53 while her 
Ethiopian rival Alemu Kebede has achieved 2:22:52. Alemu also showed last 
weekend that she is in formidable form in preparation for the Mainova 
Frankfurt Marathon, running her fastest ever half marathon in Copenhagen. 
Two European runners who could also feature are Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal 
and Britain's Stephanie Twell as well as the home contender Katharina 
Steinruck.
 
"We have put together a strong women's elite field once again and expect a 
high-class and possibly thrilling race. Our goal is to one day have a sub 
2:20 course record. It would of course be great if we could achieve it this 
year," said Race Director Jo Schindler. With 14,000 runners expected to 
take part, the organizers say places remain available for this IAAF Gold 
Label race, the top category awarded for road races worldwide. Further 
details can be found at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com 
 
Last year the Ethiopian Meskerem Assefa improved Frankfurt's course record 
to an impressive 2:20:36. It is highly possible that with good weather 
conditions this time could be under threat on October 27 and the city 
beside the River Main will stage its first ever sub-2:20 time by a woman. 
Valary Jemeli has certainly gone close to that barrier on several 
occasions. The Kenyan has broken 2:22 three times with her best achieved in 
Berlin two years ago when she finished third in 2:20:53. A strong sign of 
her potential for sub-2:20 is a personal best of 66:14 for the half 
marathon, set this year.
 
A strong performance at half marathon is also a reason for making Alemu 
Kebede one of the favourites. The Ethiopian finished fourth in a highly 
competitive women's field for the half marathon in Copenhagen last Sunday, 
improving her personal best to 66:43. In spring this year she set another 
personal best to win the Rome Marathon in 2:22:52.
 
Ana Dulce Felix has been one of the best European marathon runners for some 
time now. The 36-year-old Portuguese will be making her debut at the 
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. She has a personal best of 2:25:15 and took 
16th place in the 2016 Olympic Games marathon in Rio.
 
A runner who might well use Frankfurt as a springboard to establishing 
herself among the European Marathon elite is Stephanie Twell. The 
30-year-old Briton was once regarded as a potential successor to Paula 
Radcliffe after some outstanding performances at junior level but 
subsequently suffered injuries which hindered her development. She made her 
marathon debut in Valencia last December, finishing seventh in 2:30:14. 
That was a solid debut but what gives hope for major improvement in 
Frankfurt was her performance in the Europacup 10,000m in London this 
summer where she won in a personal best of 31:08.13. This could be a good 
omen for a marathon breakthrough.
 
Katharina Steinruck will be running the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon for the 
third year in succession. The 29-year-old competes for the home club 
Eintracht Frankfurt and is making her first appearance at the distance 
since heel surgery. Her target will be the qualifying time for the Tokyo 
Olympics next year which is 2:29:30. Steinruck, better known under her 
maiden name of Katharina Heinig, has a personal best of 2:28:34.
 
More Information and online entry are available at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

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