Kenyans dominate Frankfurt Marathon with men and women’s double

• Misoi won the Men’s race with a brilliant solo run
• It was the first time since 2013 that there was a Kenyan 1-2 in the men’s race
• Chepyego clinched the women’s title and leads podium sweep

Kenya secured a double at Sunday’s Frankfurt Marathon with Brimin Misoi and Selly Chepyego walking off winners in commanding fashion.

Both Misoi and Chepyego had commanding performances, dominating most of the second half of the race with solo runs, only aided by their pacemakers. Misoi clocked a new personal best time of 2:06:11 to lead a Kenyan 1-2 finish.

Misoi wasn’t considered one of the pre-race favourites but he ran a well-judged race to triumph by more than a minute ahead of pacemaker Samwel Nyamai Mailu, who carried on to complete the full marathon in 2:07:19 on his debut at the distance.

Meanwhile, Chepyego, who won a bronze at the 2014 World Half Marathon, led a Kenyan podium sweep as she clocked 2:23:11 to win her first ever Marathon at the age of 37. Hellah Kiprop finished second in 2:24:40 while Jackline Chepngeno timed 2:25:14 to complete the Kenyan podium sweep.

Misoi box in with the leading group

In the men’s race, Misoi who has won the Nairobi StanChart marathon twice in 2017 and 2019 boxed himself in with the leading group and they completed the first 10km in 29:52 before covering the next five in 4:48.

But, the Kenyan slowly showed his intent as he began to surge away from the leading pack, running 2:55 splits to realize a sizeable gap.

He reached the 30km mark in in 1:28:44 behind Mailu, still looking strong. Not satisfied by the tempo the pacemaker was giving to the race, Misoi decided to step up on the gas and wheeled past Mailu, now running a solo race.

He maintained the tempo and was sub-two hours by the time he got to the 40km, maintaining a steady tempo and well within his personal best time.

With a sizeable gap between him and second, the Kenyan did not accelerate but rather kept his head high to finish in a new lifetime best.

Mailu, who was supposed to drop off after 30km when his pacemaking duties ended had felt strong enough to charge up for a finish and came second, while Ethiopia’s Derese Geleta was third in 2:07:30.

Chepyego maintains steady first half of the race 

In the women’s race, Chepyego followed the male pacemakers through 10km in 33:14 and 15km in 49:38, joined by Ethiopian duo Atalel Anmut and Yeshi Kalayu Chekole. The trio were still together as the halfway mark was passed in 1:09:40.

Around 5km later, Chepyego was ready to make her move. Having dropped Anmut, Chepyego and Chekole went through 25km in 1:22:27, 19 seconds ahead and on course record pace.

The Kenyan however needed to have a stab at the course record and she dropped off the Ethiopian, picking up the pace to pass the 30km mark in 1:38:45, more than a minute ahead.

By 35km it was Kiprop in second place, as she passed that mark in 1:58:15, two minutes behind her compatriot who was charging upfront. She had however considerably dropped her pace and slipped off the course record time.

She however held on to win in 2:23:11 to Kiprop’s 2:24:40 and Chepngeno’s 2:25:14.

Leading results

Women

1 Selly Chepyego Kaptich (KEN) 2:23:11

2 Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:24:40

3 Jackline Chepngeno (KEN) 2:25:14

4 Sofiia Yaremchuk (ITA) 2:25:36

5 Caroline Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:27:58

Men

1 Brimin Kipkorir Misoi (KEN) 2:06:11

2 Samwel Nyamai Mailu (KEN) 2:07:19

3 Derese Geleta (ETH) 2:07:30

4 Balew Yihunie Derseh (ETH) 2:09:21

5 Martin Kiprugut Kosgey (KEN) 2:10:22