Aiyabei went out on WR pace but her pacemaking husband dropped out at 15k with illness. Mark Kiptoo came up short in his bid for his own masters of 2:07:50 by running 2:08:09. Brit Stephanie Twell got her Olympic standard at 2:26:40.

Israel's Lonah Salpeter (2:19:46) leads the women's field which has 4 sub-2:22 women. Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32) leads the men's field which include 8 sub-2:08 guys.

The women are shooting to break the CR and 2:20 barrier. Salpeter faces last year's winner Meskerem Assefa (2:20:36). Mekonnen faces seven other sub-2:08 men including masters WR holder Mark Kiptoo (2:06:00).

"For sure I want to keep pushing and believe I can still go faster. Today 2:05 – 2:06 was possible but the wind in the second part of the race made it hard. I was aware of the record but my goal was also to try to win the race. Once the leaders had got away I was still fighting for every position and it was nice that this assisted me to achieve the record. ... I want to continue to run as long as my body will allow. For now, I am still healthy and my training showed me I was in good shape. With the support of God, my family, my management team and my training partners, I know that anything is possible. ... I do not really view what is possible in terms of my age, I am seeing it to be the best that I can be every day.”

It was a deep women's race as the top 7 all ran sub-2:23 with Assefa beatout out Haftamnesh Tesfay by just 11-seconds. On the men's side last year's runner-up Gezahegn beat out another former runner-up Martin Kosgey by just 4-seconds. Mark Kiptoo (6th place) broke the masters world record with 2:07:50. *MB: Sara Hall – Frankfurt Marathon prediction thread Hall ended up a DNF as Lindsay Flanagan took top American honors in a 2:29:25 PR.

The women's race has former World champ Mare Dibaba, Betsy Saina and Sara Hall while the men are lead by previous runner-ups Kelkile Gezahegn (2:05:56) and Martin Kosgey (2:07:22) and 2:05:27 man Wilson Chebet

Cheruiyot made her debut in London with 2:23:50, but in Frankfurt is planning on going through the half in 70-minutes and running the same or faster for the second half.

At this race 2-years ago, Gabius broke the national record with a 2:08:33 run.

Canova thinks Gabius has a lot of potential, especially in tactical, unrabbited races like the Olympics and Worlds. Gabius says Meb Keflizighi's NYC and Boston wins inspire him.

Lima beat out Lani Rutto by 8 seconds while Tollesa just outsprinted Dinknesh Mekash with 2:23:12. Germany’s Arne Gabius took down a 27-year-old national record in 4th with 2:08:33. *Results *MB: Arne Gabius German Record 2:08:3 *MB: Renato Canova thinks German Arne Gabius can run 2:07:30 this weekend

Lima beat out Lani Rutto by 8-seconds while Tollesa just outsprinted Dinknesh Mekash with 2:23:12. Germany's Arne Gabius took down a 27-year-old national record in 4th with 2:08:33. *MB: Arne Gabius German Record 2:08:32

For locals, the interesting story will be 2:09:32-man Arne Gabius who is gunning for the 27-year-old German record of 2:08:47 (Jörg Peter - 1988).

The Paris Marathon champ faces Ashete Bekere (2:23:26), Dinknesh Mekash (2:25:09) and Meseret Kitata (2:30:25). Also Germany's Lisa Hahner (2:30:17).

Gabius is coached by Renato Canova who feels Gabius could go for the 2:08:47 German NR. Gabius is the first German to go sub-2:10 in 24-years.
*MB: Arne Gabius (2:09 M debut) EZ and LR pace: 5:50 min/mi - Never runs slower...