After what was a record year for the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon the organisers of the race intend to further develop Germany's oldest city marathon in 2010. Kenya's Gilbert Kirwa had set the highlight in October with a course record of 2:06:14.
Gilbert Kirwa ran the eighth fastest men's marathon winning time in 2009. And with his fellow countrymen Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (2:06:23) and William Kiplagat (2:07:05) clocking world-class times as well the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon has established itsself among the group of the world's leading marathons.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has meanwhile confirmed that the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon will keep the prestigious IAAF Gold Label in 2010. “I am happy that we have again fulfilled the critera for the IAAF Gold Label, which shows that we belong to the best marathons worldwide,” said Race Director Jo Schindler and added: “We have already started working on next year's edition and I can proimse that we will see another high-class event. We want to develop our race further.”
The 29th edition of the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon will take place on 31st October 2010. Online entry is already available at www.frankfurt-marathon.com . It will be the only German road race besides the Berlin Marathon that can boost an IAAF Gold Label. One of the targets in the future will be to improve the women's course record of 2:25:12, which Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) established in 2005. This year's winner Agnes Kiprop (Kenya) had clocked 2:26:57.
While especially the men's elite performances have developed strongly in recent years there was also a fine increase in fun runners. In 2009 the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon registered 12,614 marathon runners and 9,604 finishers. Both these figures are event records and make the race the third biggest German marathon.
For more information and online registration visit: www.frankfurt-marathon.com.
Gilbert Kirwa running into the unique indoor finish in Frankfurt's Festive Hall, Photo credit: www.photorun.net
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