Posted: October 26, 2007

Athletics: Kigen Looking For Third Win In Frankfurt

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com The sheriff will be back in Frankfurt on Sunday as course record-holder Wilfred Kigen goes for his third straight victory in the German capital at the Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon. Kigen, a 32 year-old Kenyan from Great Rift Valley city of Eldoret, got his first victory in Frankfurt in 2005, running a then-personal best and current course record of 2:08:29. That victory was a squeaker; he prevailed by just one second over compatriot Jason Mbote. Although he didn't run as fast last year due to warm and windy conditions, he dominated the race, winning by nearly a minute and a half in 2:09:06. At Kigen's last outing over the 42.195 km distance in Hamburg last April, he was involved in another thrilling finish, losing by a single second to former ING New York City Marathon champion, Rodgers Rop. He was, however, rewarded with a new personal best time of 2:07:33. Kigen is joined in Frankfurt by his 8 year-old daughter who is aptly named, "Patience." "I have three boys as well," Kigen told race orgnanizers. "But I thought she would be easier to bring." Kigen's top rivals are also his training partners, former steeplechaser Wilson Boit Kipketer (2:15;23 PB) and Vincent Kipsos (2:06:52). The women's race will feature the long-anticipated return of the 37 year-old Russian star, Svetlana Zakharova, a former Boston and Chicago Marathon champion who holds a 2:21:31 personal best. She comes to Frankfurt one year after giving birth to daughter Ksenga. The Germans will be looking to three of their top women to ascend the podium on Sunday, including surprise 2006 European marathon champion Ulrike Maisch (2:30:01 PB), 2002 European Championships marathon silver medalist Luminita Zaituc (2:26:01) who won Frankfurt in 2001, and two-time World Championships marathoner Melanie Kraus (2:27:58). This will be the 26th edition of marathon in Frankfurt. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest