Former Steepler Aiming To Break Barrier

The former Austrian steeplechaser wants to go sub-2:10 next year.

One of Europe’s fastest marathoners has already announced his plans for next year. Austria’s Günther Weidlinger will run the 2011 BMW Frankfurt Marathon next October.

Weidlinger cited the race’s strong field and its superb organization as the reasons behind his decision.

“I know what I get in Frankfurt and I am looking very forward to it. It is a great race with an amazing crowd support, it has a tremendously deep elite field and I can be sure that pacemaking will be arranged in a perfect way for me,” he said.

Weidlinger, 32 years old, currently holds the Austrian national record (2:10:47) and hopes to run under 2:10 this spring. “If I should manage to go sub-2:10 already in May, then I would take a more risky approach in Frankfurt and try to run really fast,” he added.

The BMW Frankfurt Marathon previously carried an IAAF Silver Label, but next year it will be a Gold-Label race. At 30 years, it is Germany’s oldest city marathon.

For more: IAAF