Kenya's Benard Biwott will return to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 25, aiming to repeat his 2024 win. Biwott first announced his international credentials in Frankfurt 2024, winning in 2:05:54 at age 22. He improved his personal best to 2:05:25 with a win in Paris in April 2025. His most recent outing was a ninth-place finish in Cape Town in May.
The 2026 race will feature Germany's three fastest marathoners – Amanal Petros, Samuel Fitwi, and Richard Ringer. They will compete together in a city marathon for the first time. Petros holds the German record (2:04:03), while Fitwi and Ringer have personal bests of 2:04:45 and 2:04:47 respectively. All three have personal bests faster than Biwott's 2:05:25.
Race director Jo Schindler said the presence of the German trio would attract attention. However, Schindler warned that they would face a strong field and no "victory on a plate". The Frankfurt Marathon has a history of attracting top talent, and this year's event promises to be no exception. Biwott's task will be to overcome a strong field of competitors.
Other notable entrants include Ethiopia's Andualem Belay (2:04:44 PB) and Israel-representing Haimro Alame (2:06:04 PB). Alame placed fourth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. The men's field is stacked with talent, making Biwott's title defense a challenging task. The Frankfurt Marathon is known for its fast course, which could lead to quick times.
In the women's race, Kenyan Marion Kibor is highlighted after a 2:21:12 personal best in Hamburg. Ethiopia's Zeineba Yimer leads the field with a 2:18:47 best. Yimer will face stiff competition from American Betsy Saina and Ethiopia's Buzunesh Getachew, both sub-2:20 runners. Getachew won the Frankfurt marathon in 2023.
The women's field features several top athletes vying for the top spot. Kibor's personal best in Hamburg demonstrates her potential for a strong performance in Frankfurt. Saina and Getachew are also experienced runners who could challenge Yimer's best time. The women's race promises to be highly competitive.
The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will take place on October 25. The event will feature a strong field of competitors in both the men's and women's races. Benard Biwott's title defense will be a key storyline to watch, as he faces off against Germany's top marathoners and other international athletes.
Key points
- Benard Biwott to defend Frankfurt Marathon title against top German runners
- Germany's Amanal Petros, Samuel Fitwi, and Richard Ringer to compete together for the first time
- Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer leads women's field with a 2:18:47 best time
