Meskerem Assefa set for Frankfurt Marathon return on October 25
Ethiopia’s 2018 Frankfurt Marathon winner Meskerem Assefa is set to return on October 25, 2026, after organizers secured her visa, The Reporter reports.
In short
- Ethiopia’s 2018 Frankfurt Marathon winner Meskerem Assefa is set to return on October 25, 2026, after organizers secured her visa, The Reporter reports.
Ethiopian runner Meskerem Assefa is set to return to the Frankfurt Marathon on October 25, 2026, with her entry confirmed after uncertainty over her travel visa, according to The Reporter.
The newspaper reported on October 17 that organizers had secured the visa for Assefa, who won the race in 2018. Her return adds another former champion to the women’s field at the event’s 43rd edition.
Assefa has a personal best of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 36 seconds. The Reporter listed her as the third-fastest entrant on personal bests, behind Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer, at 2:18:47, and American Betsy Saina, at 2:19:17.
Another Ethiopian former winner, Buzunesh Getachew, has withdrawn because of injury, the report said. Getachew won in 2023.
Ethiopian interest also extends to the men’s race, where Andualem Belay is among four entrants reported to have run faster than 2:05:00. Germany’s Amanal Petros heads the start list with a personal best of 2:04:03, alongside fellow Germans Samuel Fitwi and Richard Ringer in that group.
The confirmed entry gives Assefa an opportunity to compete again at the race she won eight years ago. The published personal bests describe the entrants’ previous performances; the October 25 race remains ahead.
