Frankfurt Marathon 2009 with deepest field ever in any German city marathon – 15 men with sub-2:09 PBs

October 16, 2009

Defending champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot will be back in Frankfurt but will face a very deep field in the 2009 Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon (25th of October 2009). The Kenyan had caused one of the biggest sensations in marathon running in 2008, when he took the Frankfurt race at his debut marathon clocking a superb 2:07:21h. This time still stands as his personal best, but in the meanwhile he confirmed his quality by taking fifth place at this years Boston Marathon in spring. The 21 year-old is one of a number of athletes capable to break the course record, which he set last year with his 2:07:21h.

Cheruiyot will compete against the best ever depth in the history of German city marathon running. No less than 15 athletes with personal bests of sub 2:09h have entered the race. If weather conditions are fine a thrilling race could develop on the fast course through Germany’s financial capital.

Kenyans Benjamin Kiptoo, who had won the Rome Marathon in spring with a personal best of 2:07:17h, Hosea Rotich (PB: 2:07:24h), Jason Mbote (2:07:37h), Joseph Ngolepus (2:07:57h) and William Kiplagat (2:06:50h) are the expected main contenders with PBs of sub 2:08.

Carrying the European hopes in this extraordinary field will be Austrian Günther Weidlinger. The former world class steeple chaser ran his debut marathon in Vienna this April finishing with 2:12:39h and is going for the 22-year old Austrian National Record in the marathon (2:12:22h) again.

German hopes are mainly on Steffen Justus. The professional triathlete already surprised German elite runners by taking second with a fine 1:04:58h in this years German Halfmarathon Championships in spring. Justus won his debut marathon last year in Munich with a clocking of 2:21:38h and took an impressive 5th place in the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series.

The women’s field, which had been announced recently, is the strongest in the history of the Frankfurt Marathon as well. Kenyans Rose Cheruiyot (2:25:48) and Agnes Kiprop (2:26:22) are among the pre-race favourites in the women’s race. German Luminita Zaituc will give run her last competitive marathon.