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Masai out to make amends in Frankfurt as women’s trio target course record
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 26.10.24. | 13:34
Magdalyne is running alongside husband Jake Robertson and sister Linet Masai for the first time
Yeshi Chekole, Hawi Feysa and Magdalyne Masai have been tipped to be front runners as organisers set their sights on getting a course record at the 41st Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday 27 October.
The record held by Valerie Aiyabei stands at 2:19:10, from 2019.
Chekole, returning from injury, is the fastest on the start list this year with 2:21:17, leading an elite list that has five sub 2:23 runners. Shuko Genemo (2:21:35), Kidsan Alema (2:22:28), Meseret Dinke (2:22:35) and Masai (2:22:16) complete the list.
“My aim is the course record but I have to be careful about my foot," Chekole said. "If I don’t break the course record, I certainly want to set a personal best."
Despite some late withdrawals, that still makes Frankfurt’s elite field a strong prospect, offering the chance of fast and enthralling competition.
“We are delighted to have another world class and exciting race to offer which has every chance of producing one or two surprises,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler.
Feysa heads to the race with an impressive half marathon best of 65:41 that suggests that she is capable of running faster than her current best of 2:23:36. Last year she also produced a world-class showing at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathhurst, Australia by finishing sixth.
“I am ready for a surprise and a fast time,” Feysa who is a member of a very high quality training group in Addis Ababa that includes Olympic silver medalist and former world record holder Tigst Assef, the current Berlin champion Tigist Ketema and Amane Beriso Shankule, World Marathon Champion in 2023, said.
“There’s not much difference between us in training. We are more or less on the same level. But competition is a different matter altogether,” she added.
The fastest European woman is from Germany: Laura Hottenrott. The 32-year-old caused a surprise in running a huge personal best of 2:24:32 in Valencia last December. She then went on to finish 38th in the Olympic Marathon. This will be her first race since Paris.
Masai, who is running alongside husband Jake Robertson, and sister Linet Masai ran in Frankfurt last year finished ninth in challenging weather conditions and with what appeared to be the start of an infection, only for it to be diagnosed later as Covid-19.
She made a return in the road in February, finishing second in Seville with 2:22:51. She is determined to put things right in Frankfurt this time and is delighted at the prospect of this family adventure.
“It has been my dream for a long time that we could run a marathon together. I am on my best form and I want to run a sub 2:20 and, if possible, win," she told organisers.
Linet who trains in Kaptagat hopes to replicate her track success in the marathon.
"I hope I can achieve the same success in the marathon as I did on the track and in cross country. My transition from track to marathon has taken a long time and it hasn’t been easy,” explained Linet.
