Magdalyne Masai back to Frankfurt

Her late addition to the field was possible because the Kenyan recovered quickly from collapsing in brutal heat during the World Championships’ Marathon in Tokyo last month. For Masai it will be the third Mainova Frankfurt Marathon in a row.

In 2024 the 31 year-old was runner-up with a strong personal best of 2:18:58. With this time she is the fastest woman ever on a start list of the traditional Mainova Frankfurt Marathon stand. The 42nd edition of the race will see the strongest elite field in its history.

There are six women on the start list who have achieved personal records of sub 2:23:00. Two of them have broken 2:20:00. Besides Magdalyne Masai this is fellow-Kenyan Sharon Chelimo, who improved to 2:19:33 when she took the Barcelona Marathon this spring. Ethiopians Etagegne Woldu (2:20:03) and Aminet Ahmed (2:21:24) had to withdraw due to injuries.

Magdalyne Masai was in the bronze medal position at the World Championships’ marathon in Tokyo in extremely hot and humid conditions but then suffered problems in the heat and collapsed. “After a break to recover my first training sessions went so well that I really wanted to run another marathon in the autumn. I am in the best shape of my life and did not want to waste it,“ said Magdalyne Masai. “Frankfurt is the perfect race for me. I am really excited to have the chance to come back!“

The men’s field of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is very strong as well. Seven runners feature personal bests of sub 2:08:00. Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata, the winner of the 2017 race, is returning. With a personal best of 2:04:49 he leads the field ahead of his highly rated compatriot Dejene Megersa (PB: 2:05:42). Germany’s Filimon Abraham hopes to produce a fine performance and aims to break his personal best of 2:08:11 on the fast Frankfurt course.