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Ericson Kiprono

Aiyabei wins in Frankfurt with course record time Valary Jemeli Ayabei is the winner of the 38th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt marathon women’s category yesterday.

Ayabei smashes the course record in 2:19.10 first sub 2:20, the fifth-fastest time in the world, Ethiopia’s Mengitu Kebede and Meskerem Assefa the defending champion was second and third in 2:21.10 and 2:22.11 while the Israeli record holder Lonah salpeter was fourth in 2:23.11.

Salpeter, the Israeli record holder, is the third-fastest European of all time after winning the Prague Marathon in May this year in 2:19:46. Only the former world record holder Paula Radcliffe with 2:15:25 and Germany’s Irina Mikitenko with 2:19:19 have run faster.

In the corresponding men category, it was Ethiopia affair as Fikre Tefera won in a time of 2:07.08 and Dawit Wolde was second in 2:07.10 and Aweke Ayalew of Bahrain was third in 2:07.12 while Mark Kiptoo came a distant fifth in 2:08.09 missing his world masters record by 19 seconds.

Aiyabei who has emerged triumphant in four straight marathons in Eldoret, Barcelona, Valencia and Prague, improving her PB on each occasion.

Her winning marks in Valencia and Prague remain as the course records and she also proved her worth in 2018 with a 2:22:48 clocking in Nagoya where she finishes second.

The Iten-based athlete added that she will be eyeing one of the international marathon races after a brilliant performance in the Frankfurt marathon.

She entered the history books as the first Kenyan woman to win the 39th edition of Beijing Marathon in September after clocking 2:21:38.

Last year, an enduring Aiyabei lived up to expectations at the Beijing Marathon where she became the first Kenyan woman winner at the IAAF Gold Label event, hitting the finish line in 2:21:38.