By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Feb. 6, 2024
The General Manager of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Mr. Yusuf Alli, on Tuesday assured that the marathon’s push for a platinum label, an upgrade from its present gold label, would soon be achieved.
Ali gave the assurance in a statement in Lagos on the number of elite athletes who had so far registered for the 2024 marathon.
According to him, the push for platinum label will be realised sooner than expected.
He said that no fewer than 81 Elite athletes and 15 refugee runners have been confirmed for the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon
“The over 81 world class elite runners who are basically Gold Label athletes have confirmed their participation in the marathon which comes up on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.
“Among these over 81 elite runners, there are 29 gold label women runners, which in totality has a rich and world class running field with the potential of unearthing a new course record come the marathon day,” he said.
Alli, a former Africa record holder in Long Jump for 27 years, noted that the confirmation of more than 81 world class Gold Label runners, was a positive development for the 142km and 10 km race.
“The improvement in participation is coming especially as we 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 caliber of runners that will be on the field on Feb. 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,” he said.
Alli added: “With the presence of a former world record holder like Demis Kipmeto, on 2 hours 02 minutes and 57 seconds; Kelkile Gezahegan (Ethiopia), on 2hours 05 minutes and 56 seconds; and Kiptoo Edwin on 2 hours 06 minutes and 52 seconds, we are on the right track.
“Also, with 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, Feb. 10,” he said.
Yusuf Ali, also said that, the 9th Lagos City Marathon would be used to select qualifiers for the next edition of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024.
He said that the 9th Marathon would be a great race by all standards, adding that, air quality control would be checked by the World Athletics body among other things done in top world class marathon races.
According to Bukola Olopade, the Chief Executive Officer, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, owners of the Lagos City Marathon, the United Nations has also confirmed that the participating 15 refugee runners will be among the rich field of runners expected at the 9th Lagos City Marathon.
