Fast times in Frankfurt

VALARY JEMELI AIYABEI GOES SUB-2:20 IN GERMANY, WHILE STEPH TWELL BREAKS THE SCOTTISH MARATHON RECORD, WRITES JASON HENDERSON

AFTER setting off at 2:12 pace, many expected Valary Jemeli Aiyabei to fade in the second half of last Sunday’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. The 28-year-old Kenyan did slow down but, showing impressive reserves of stamina, she held on to win in a fast 2:19:10.

Not only was it a course record but it was also the first time a woman had broken the 2:20 barrier in Frankfurt as she went to No.12 on the world all-time rankings.

Behind, Steph Twell ran a Scottish record of 2:26:40 to go No.5 on the UK all-time lists, while Fikre Tefera won a close men’s race in 2:07:08 – just two seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian Dawit Wolde.

On a busy Sunday of racing that included a world record at the IAU 24-hour Championships in France, the Dublin Marathon and quick times at the Valencia Half-Marathon and, domestically, the Leeds Abbey Dash (Results, p46) the big event of the day was Frankfurt and eyebrows were immediately raised when Aiyabei stormed through her first 5km in 15:38 – 2:12 pace – and established a big lead over her rivals in the process.

Just one week after Brigid Kosgei ran a world record of 2:14:04 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, were we on for another world record? Aiyabei then passed 10km in 31:44 – just inside 2:14 pace – and halfway in 67:42 – as she began to tire.

“My aim was to break my personal best,” said Aiyabei, whose PB was 2:20:53. “Running alone isn’t easy. I had to struggle and grind it out. I started fast because I thought I could hang on later when I slowed down.”

Aiyabei was paced by her husband Kenneth Tarus until he had to drop out at 15km because of stomach problems.