Kosgey eyes Frankfurt title after four failed attempts

Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will be back in action with strong elite fields on Sunday 30 October after a two-year break. 

Kenya's Martin Kosgey who has earned the title of “Mr Frankfurt” for his exploits on the the course will look to finally break the duck and bag the title. 

Kosgey knows the course well but has in the four occasions he has run there, fallen short.

He has finished in second place twice, in 2016 and 2018, clocking what remains his personal best time in the classic distance of 2:06.41 at the latter edition. He has also placed fourth in 2017 and 2019. 

The 33-year-old Kosgey has his work cut out as he goes up against a field that has nine athletes who have run under 2:10, led by the Ethiopian Getesfa Getahun whose personal best stands at 2:05:28. 

The 24-year-old Getahun ran his fastest time to-date of 2:05:28 on his marathon debut in Amsterdam in 2019 and headlines the men's list. 

Gebru Redahgne, 22, is the second fastest on the Frankfurt starting lists with his time of 2:05:58 in Barcelona at the beginning of May. Both are keen to take the next step and move up in the marathon hierarchy. 

Kosgey will have fellow countrymen led by lasf year's Graz Marathon champion who finished fourth at this year's Vienna City Marathon Charles Ndiema. 

Others include Brimin Misoi, Dominic Letting, Stephen Mugambi and Linus Maruka who will be making his debut in the classic distance. 

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Ndiema warmed up for Frankfurt with a fourth-place finish at the Kleine Zeitung Wörthersee half marathon held in August, clocking 1:02:09 at the Austrian District. 

Organisers have also included Germany runner Hendrik Pfeiffer, as a last-minute addition. He had originally planned to run the New York Marathon in November but the 29-year-old wanted to profit from his current excellent form and take to Frankfurt’s renowned flat, fast course, aiming to improve his personal best of 2:10:18.

“I am confident I could run a personal best and, of course, would love to break 2:10,” said Pfeiffer, who finished 24th at the European Championships in Munich in August and helped the German squad win a silver medal in the Europa Cup team event. “I am grateful to the organizers for enabling me to run in Frankfurt at short notice and want to put my form to good use on the road.”

Elite Men

Betesfa Getahun ETH 2:05:28

Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58

Martin Kosgey KEN 2:06:41

Derseh Balew Yihunie ETH 2:07:22

Asefa Mengisa ETH 2:07:47

Charles Ndiema KEN 2:08:12

Brimin Misoi KEN 2:08:41

Deresa Ulfata ETH 2:08:42

Dominic Letting KEN 2:09:30

Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:10:18

Stephen Mugambi KEN 2:11:39

Justino da Silva BRA 2:13:31

Edson Arruda BRA 2:14:35

Justin Mahieu BEL 2:14:43

Filimon Abraham GER  - - -

Linus Maruka KEN Debüt

Ashenafi Gebru ETH Debüt

Eyob Solomun ERI Debüt

Merhawi Ghebreslasie FRA Debüt