Makau misses world record in freezing Frankfurt

Germany: Freezing conditions foiled world record-holder Patrick Makau in his bid to better his own mark when he won the Frankfurt marathon on Sunday in an official time of 2hrs 06.08mins. The 27-year-old Kenyan, who set the world record of 2hrs 03.38secs at the 2011 Berlin marathon, had to work hard in the lead group and only hit the front in the race’s closing stages over 42km (26miles). “My legs weren’t good today, they weren’t reacting, but I found strength in the end,” said Makau. Second was Ethiopia’s Deressa Chimsa, who clocked 2hrs 06:52secs, with Kenya’s Gilbert Kirwa third in 2hrs 07.35mins. A cold front over Germany meant the race was run with the thermometer reading just five degrees Celsius with 16,034 runners taking part. The women’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu who set a course record on her marathan debut in a time of of 2hrs 21mins 01sec. She finished ahead of second-placed Kenyan Georgina Rono in 2hrs 21.39 with defending champion Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia third in 2hrs 23.52.