Kenyan double as Kaptich, Misoi bag Frankfurt titles

Selly Kaptich and Brimin Misoi starred at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday, defying unusually high temperatures for the women and men's titles.

Temperatures of around 20 degrees celsius towards the end of the elite race made this the warmest Frankfurt Marathon in 33 years and made it tough for the runners who were targeting the course record and personal bests (PB). 

The women were on course for a sub 2:20 result and a course record until late in the race. Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei clocked the current record of 2:19:10 three years ago and this remains the only sub 2:20 result in the history of the event.

Kaptich, who was the fastest runner on the start list with a PB of 2:21:06 reached half way in 69:40 and at this stage Ethiopians Atalel Anmut Dargie and Yoshi Chekole still managed to hold on to the group. 

A bit further behind a second group with six runners followed in a promising split time of 70:34. Among these runners was Helah Kiprop, Kenya’s marathon silver medalist from the World Championships in 2015. 

Kaptich increased the pace further at 25km (1:22:27) and covered the following 5km section in a very fast 16:18 and her 30k split time of 1:38:45 then indicated that a sub 2:19 finish might be possible. 

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But all of a sudden the Kenyan leader was in trouble as well. In the warm conditions she slowed considerably. Kaptich was not in danger of being caught because she was well ahead by over two minutes and the women behind her also slowed as well. But the course record was soon out of reach and a time of sub 2:20 became unrealistic as well. 

 With time of 2:23:11 Kaptich ran the third fastest marathon time of her career. Behind her Helah had moved up into second place and then finished in 2:24:40 with fellow-Kenyan Jackline Chepngeno taking third with 2:25:14. 

“It was a great day for me. The atmosphere was superb and I think I could break the course record if I could come back next year and if weather conditions would be cooler,“ Kaptich said.  

Meanwhile, Misoi, overcame the tough conditions to run a personal best of 2:06:11. A finishing time of 2:04 seemed possible for a while but the rising temperatures forced Misoi to slacken his pace from kilometre 37 although he remained unchallenged for the win. 

“I expected to win. My form was good. The course is outstanding, I am sure I can run faster here,” he said. 

His previous PB was 2:08:41, set in May this year at altitude in Nairobi, which is always a tough event. Misoi showed that he is a true competitor by taking over two-and-a-half minutes off that time.

Samwel Mailu was a distant second but deserved the applause and was right to celebrate a brilliant marathon debut in 2:07:19.

This was achieved after completing his original role as a pacemaker for Misoi and the rest of the leading group to outstanding effect. The organisers had agreed on the eve of the race to his request that he could race to the finish, once his pacing duties were done. 

Ethiopian Derese Ulfata also produced a solid performance to finish third in 2:07:30, also a personal best.

The home fans also had good reason to celebrate the success of Hendrik Pfeiffer. In a controlled effort, the German finished a creditable seventh in 2:11:28, not quite the sub-2:10 he had wanted but his second fastest time ever, nonetheless. 

“I am mega-happy. It was a great result and rounds off a great year for me,” said Pfeiffer, who at the European Championships in Munich in August finished 24th, helping Germany to win the silver medal in the team competition.

Official results women

1. Selly Kaptich KEN 2:23:11

2. Helah Kiprop KEN 2:24:40

3. Jackline Chepngego KEN 2:25:14

4. Sofiia Yaremchuk ITA 2:25:36

5. Caroline Jepchirchir KEN 2:27:58

6. Sardana Trofimova KGZ 2:28:50

7. Meseret Alemu ETH 2:29:21

8. Martha Akeno KEN 2:36:33

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Official results men

1. Brimin Misoi KEN 2:06:11

2. Samwel Mailu KEN 2:07:19

3. Derese Ulfata ETH 2:07:30

4. Balew Derseh ETH 2:09:21

5. Martin Kosgey KEN 2:10:22

6. Bonface Kiplimo KEN 2:11:08

7. Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:11:28

8. Stephen Mugambi KEN 2:11:34