Buze Diriba was crowned champion of the 42nd edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with a winning time below the 2:20:00. She ran a personal best despite very strong winds. While hopes for faster times were blown away, the 31-year-old Ethiopian clocked 2:19:34. Kenyans Magdalyne Masai and Sharon Chelimo followed in second and third in 2:20:23 and 2:20:29, respectively.
There was a surprise champion in the men’s race in 29-year-old Ethiopian Belay Asfaw, who took the honours at 2:06:16. Taresa Bekuma was the runner-up in 2:07:01, while third-placed Shura Kitata, the winner from 2017, made it an all-Ethiopian podium, clocking 2:07:02.
The women’s race
Buze Diriba was in control from start to finish, giving her all in the process. Straight from the start, the Ethiopian was at the front of the field. Admittedly, she adopted a slower pace than announced beforehand, but, given the windy and chilly conditions, this turned out to be a smart move. Her halfway split was 69:25, on course for a marathon finish of under 2:19. From 30 km, her pursuers reduced her lead, and when the gap was just around 20 seconds, it looked as if Magdalyne Masai and Sharon Chelimo might catch her, but then Diriba was able to push again and hold on.
“It was my aim to run a fast time, and I planned to attack the course record. But with around 10 km to go, my pacemaker struggled and dropped out. It became more difficult, and I concentrated on winning the race,“ said Diriba. It was her first time under 2:20:00.
She moved up to 15th on the 2025 world list and achieved the fifth fastest time ever in Frankfurt.
The race for second place was won by the Kenyan Magdalyne Masai in 2:20:23 from her compatriot Sharon Chelimo in 2:20:29. Eleven women ran under 2:25:00, and among them was the Briton Abbie Donnelly in eighth position with a UK year’s best of 2:24:11. That made her 14 seconds faster than her compatriot Eilish McColgan’s time in London this April. It also made Donnelly the ninth-fastest European woman this year.
While the Hungarian Lili Anna Vindics-Toth made a successful marathon debut with 2:28:15 in 13th position, Laura Hottenrott of Germany ran 2:28:17 for 14th place.
The men’s race
The lead group attempted to carry out their plan despite the wind. They went through 10 km in 29:33, still with the intended finishing time of just under 2:05 as a realistic target. But from 14 km, the headwinds slowed them, and the lead group clearly lost time. Eleven runners, including two pacemakers, reached halfway in 62:50.
The race developed into a thrilling contest for the title. At first, three Ethiopians broke away between 27 and 28 km: Lulu Negera (2:09:54 previous personal best), Belay Asfaw (2:07:00) and Getachew Masresha (2:07:04) reached 30 km in 1:29:02. But another Ethiopian, Yismaw Yitayew (2:09:32) was making up ground behind them and took the lead with 10 km remaining. While one of the pre-race favourites, Ethiopia’s Dejene Megersa, had dropped out, Yitayew and Asfaw went clear. The latter increased the pace and built a decisive lead, running 2:53 for the 37th kilometre. Belay Asfaw was a clear winner in 2:06:16. Despite the windy conditions, five of the top ten men finishers achieved personal bests. “I was well prepared and despite the strong field, the victory came as no surprise to me,“ said Belay Asfaw.
The wind also proved a problem for the leading German man, Filimon Abraham. For much of the race, the 32-year-old was on course to improve his personal best of 2:08:11, only to slow towards the end. While he himself was not satisfied with a time of 2:09:43, he nonetheless produced a strong performance for ninth place.
A record number of 17,000 entries were registered for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Including events at shorter distances, the total entry figure was 30,407 runners. “We are happy that we have reached these figures. This is a new dimension,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.
Results
Results, Men:
1. Belay Asfaw ETH 2:06:16
2. Taresa Bekuma ETH 2:07:01
3. Shura Kitata ETH 2:07:02
4. Yismaw Yitayew ETH 2:07:20
5. Yasin Haji ETH 2:07:47
6. Masresha Getachew ETH 2:09:32
7. Timothy Misoi KEN 2.09:35
8. Edwin Kibichiy KEN 2:09:41
9. Filimon Abraham GER 2:09:43
10. Lulu Negera ETH 2:09:47
Women:
1. Buze Diriba ETH 2:19:34
2. Magdalyne Masai KEN 2:20:23
3. Sharon Chelimo KEN 2:20:29
4. Catherine Cherotich KEN 2:21:40
5. Mehret Robe ETH 2:23:29
6. Ayinadis Birle ETH 2:23:50
7. Dagnachew Asegu ETH 2:24:05
8. Abbie Donnelly GBR 2:24:11
9. Gladys Jeptepkeny KEN 2:24:52
10. Pascaline Kibiwott KEN 2:24:56
Further information is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
