At least 81 world-class elite runners who are Gold Label athletes will participate in the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, which begins on Saturday, February 20.
General Manager of the Lagos City Marathon Yusuf Ali, who made this known equally confirmed the participation of 15 refugee runners among the rich field of runners that will take part in the 9th Lagos City Marathon.
He noted that among these over 81 elite runners, there are 29 gold-label women runners, which in totality has a very rich and world-class running field with the potential of discovering a new course record come February 10.
The Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the owners of the Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, the United Nations, has also confirmed the participation of 15 refugee runners among the rich field of runners that will be participating in the 9th Lagos City Marathon.
The race General Manager, and former Africa record holder in the Long Jump for 27 years, noted that the confirmation of over 81 world-class Gold Label runners, is a positive thing for the 9th edition of the Lagos City Marathon, especially as the organisers are preparing for the 10th edition of the race with the biggest prospect of uplifting the race from the Gold Label status to the Platinum Label.
“Our target is to ensure that our registered world class elite runners help propel the Lagos City Marathon to the Platinum Label. This is possible with the calibre of runners that will be on the field on February 10. If we can produce five elite runners crossing the finish line at 2 hours 8 minutes, we shall most definitely climb to the Platinum Label.
“With the presence of a former world record holder like Denis Kipmeto on 2 hours 02 minutes and 57 seconds, Kelkile Gezahegan (Ethiopia) on 2 hours 05 minutes and 56 seconds, Kiptoo Edwin on 2 hours 06 minutes and 52 seconds and female runners like Valary Jemeli (Kenya) on 2 hours 19 minutes, there is a huge possibility that the status of the Lagos City Marathon will change at the end of this race on Saturday, February 10.”
Ali explained that the 9th Lagos City Marathon will be used to select qualifiers for the next edition of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024.
He pointed out that the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be outstanding by all standards in 2024, stating futher that air quality control will be checked by the World Athletics among other things done in top world-class marathon races across the world.
