Two world-class runners from Kenya, Wilson Kipsang and Wilfred Kigen, are the first signings for this year’s Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon, which will be staged on October 31st.
The Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race and while Kigen will return once again to his favourite marathon race, Kipsang will be running his second marathon.
Organisers of Germany’s oldest city marathon expect a record entry of around 13,000 marathon runners.
Wilson Kipsang is one of the most promising recent marathon newcomers. The 28 year-old Kenyan has run his debut in Paris this year. In a high-class field he finished third and instantly established a world-class time of 2:07:13.
Now Wilson Kipsang is eager to further improve this time. His experience from his debut marathon in April will surely help him while additionally the course of the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon is regarded as a very fast one.
Before Wilson Kipsang had turned to the marathon he had done very well in the half marathon. His personal best stands at 58:59 minutes, which he had run in Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) in February 2009.
With this time he is still the sixth fastest half marathon runner of all times. At last year’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham he placed fourth, missing a medal by just eight seconds.
Wilson Kipsang should have the potential to clearly improve on his 2:07:13 from Paris. This may well lead to another great course record at the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon. In 2009 Gilbert Kirwa (Kenya) had won the race in 2:06:14.
With more strong Kenyans soon to be signed the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon even be on the way to a sub 2:06 time on 31st October. One has already agreed to return again: Wilfred Kigen has achieved unique success in Frankfurt.
The former course record holder (2:07:58) had won the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon three times in a row from 2005 to 2007.
After putting behind some injury problems the 35 year-old returned with a win at the Hamburg Marathon in April this year. He clocked 2:09:22 there and is now eager to attack his personal best of 2:07:33 at the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon.