Press Release - Frankfurt Marathon - 7/25/23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       40th Edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29

Frankfurt celebrates its Marathon Anniversary with recruitment of European 
Silver Medallist Matea Parlov Kostro and rising Kenyan star Samwel Mailu

Two highly promising internationals who each won marathon titles this 
spring with impressive course records will be on the start line for the 
40th anniversary edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29. 
Matea Parlov Kostro from Croatia is the European silver medallist for the 
distance who dominated the Hanover race earlier this year. Samwel Mailu is 
one of the rising talents from Kenya in the marathon. A year ago he 
finished second in Frankfurt and impressed in winning the Vienna title in 
April.

Taking into account events held in conjunction with the main event, 
organizers of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon expect around 25,000 
participants on the last Sunday in October. The event holds an Elite Road 
Race Label, awarded by World Athletics, the sport's governing organization. 
Registration is still available at www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

"In Matea Parlov Kostro and Samwel Mailu we've succeeded in recruiting two 
rising stars of the international marathon scene. I'm delighted that we are 
going to have two popular figures in running on the start line in 
Frankfurt," said the race director Jo Schindler. "After our successful 
comeback from the Corona lockdown a year ago we want to stage an exciting 
show of running in celebrating the anniversary of the oldest German city 
race in Frankfurt."

A year ago Samwel Mailu made his event debut at the Mainova Frankfurt 
Marathon. He was originally entered as a pacemaker but the now 30-year-old 
Kenyan showed top form, did not drop out of the race and, despite the role 
of pacemaker, finished second in 2:07:19. After this strong debut he won a 
marathon classic in April for his next step up the ladder. Despite high 
temperatures Mailu triumphed in Vienna with 2:05:08, breaking the men's 
course record which had stood for nine years.

After his success in the 40th edition of Austria's most important road 
race, Mailu now has another big anniversary event in his sights: "I have a 
good feeling in returning to Frankfurt. After all, I made my marathon debut 
there and the organization is very good. My aim is to improve my personal 
best and to run under 2:05 in Frankfurt," said Samwel Mailu. In his home 
town of Ulawani, the Kenyan supports younger runners and also takes on the 
role of event director himself, organizing a 10k road race.

Matea Parlov Kostro will be racing in Frankfurt for the first time. The 
31-year-old has made great inroads among the European marathon elite in 
recent years and became a sporting star at home in Croatia after the 
European Championships in 2022. Her silver medal was the first of any kind 
won by a Croatian woman in a running event since the European Championships 
were first staged almost a century ago. She achieved the biggest win of her 
career so far in winning the Hanover title in April, running 2:25:45 for a 
course record and personal best.

"I decided to run the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon because I knew that it 
offers a high quality field and fast course. I always have a good feeling 
when I race in Germany – and that's another reason for deciding on 
Frankfurt," explained Matea Parlov Kostro, who is almost certain of an 
Olympic marathon place for Croatia in Paris next year. "I hope that I 
further improve my personal best in Frankfurt and am looking forward very 
much to the race, especially the fantastic finish in the Festhalle."

Further information and online registration can be found at: 
www.frankfurt-marathon.com 

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