Preview: Elisha Rotich and Yeshi Chekole Lead Stellar Lineup at Frankfurt Marathon

Elisha Rotich of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Yeshi Chekole spearhead the distinguished lineup at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon scheduled for next Sunday. Rotich boasts a personal best of 2:04:21, while Chekole's top mark is 2:21:17. The event, a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, has attracted over 14,000 entrants.

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Several athletes, including Ethiopians Herpasa Negasa and Tigist Abayechew, along with Kenya's Eric Kiptanui, have withdrawn due to injuries or visa complications. Consequently, the men’s field now includes four runners with personal bests under 2:07:00 and ten others who have finished below 2:10:00.

The male frontrunners are anticipated to maintain a pace around 2:05, with organizers optimistic about achieving a winning time just under this threshold. Conversely, the women’s competition may steal the spotlight at this 41st iteration of Germany’s longest-standing city marathon. They aim to surpass the course record of 2:19:10 set by Kenya's Valary Aiyabei in 2019, with five contenders having personal bests under 2:23:00. Ethiopia’s Hawi Feiysa, with a personal best of 2:23:36 and a half marathon time of 65:41, is expected to perform exceptionally. Her sixth-place finish at last year's World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, further highlights her potential.

Local athletes Tom Thurley and Laura Hottenrott are at the forefront of the domestic challenge. Thurley secured second place at this year’s national championships with a time of 2:14:52, while Hottenrott, who clocked 2:24:32 in Valencia last year, finished 38th at the Paris Olympic marathon.

MEN ELITE FIELD:

1. Elisha Rotich KEN 2:04:21
2. Lencho Tesfaye ETH 2:06:18
3. Aychew Bantie ETH 2:06:23
4. Birhan Nebebew ETH 2:06:52
5. Gossa Challa ETH 2:07:43
6. Workneh Serbessa ETH 2:07:58
7. Abdelaziz Merzougui ESP 2:08:00
8. Gerba Dibaba ETH 2:08:25
9. Jake Robertson NZL 2:08:26
10. Belay Bezabeh ETH 2:08:58
11. Ebba Chala SWE 2:09:06
12. Reuben Narry KEN 2:09:06
13. Bernard Muia KEN 2:09:17
14. Vincent Ronoh KEN 2:09:21
15. Tom Thurley GER 2:14:52
16. Jonathan Dahlke GER 2:15:42
17. Jan Lukas Becker GER Debüt

WOMEN ELITE FIELD:

1. Yeshi Chekole ETH 2:21:17
2. Shuko Genemo ETH 2:21:35
3. Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:22:16
4. Kidsan Alema ETH 2:22:28
5. Meseret Dinke ETH 2:22:52
6. Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:23:02
7. Agnes Keino KEN 2:23:26
8. Hawi Feiysa ETH 2:23:36
9. Linet Masai KEN 2:23:46
10. Laura Hottenrott GER 2:24:32
11. Tadelech Nedi ETH 2:26:23
12. Georgina Schwiening GBR 2:26:28
13. Aberash Korsa ETH 2:29:04

Further information and online registration is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com