2018 Frankfurt Diary: Meskerem Assefa sets CR of 2:20.36 at Mainova Frankfurt Marrathon

FRANKFURT (GER, Oct 28): Last year’s runner-up Kelkile Gezahegn from Ethiopia won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2:06:37 (62:28/64:09) from Kenyans Martin Kosgey (2:06:41) and Alex Kibet (2:07:09). Mark Kiptoo, 42, was sixth in a world over-40 record of 2:07:50, his first sub-2:10 clocking since 2015. Arne Gabius was the top non-African finisher in ninth in 2:11:45 (64:53/66:52). There was excellent depth in the women’s race with the top seven finishers all breaking the 2:23 mark. Ethiopian finishers took the first six places with Meskerem Assefa winning in a course record of 2:20:36 (69:55/70:41) ahead of Haftamnesh Tesfay (2:20:47) and Bedatu Hirpa (2:21:32) with former world 10,000m bronze medallist Belaynesh Oljira fourth in 2:21:53. Nancy Kiprop was the leading non-Ethiopian finisher in seventh in 2:22:46 while USA’s Lindsay Flanagan was the top non-African in 13th in 2:29:25, one place ahead of Germany’s Katharina Heinig in 2:29:55. Sara Hall, who was on course for a 2:25 clocking, dropped out just after the 25km mark due to a leg injury.