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.
