Preparations for the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are in full swing as over eighty-one elite athletes, including twenty-nine gold-label women runners, have confirmed their participation in the prestigious event scheduled for Saturday, February 10, 2024.
Yusuf Ali, the General Manager of the Lagos City Marathon, expressed excitement over the caliber of elite runners set to grace the event, highlighting the potential for a new course record in such a rich and diverse field.
In a significant gesture of inclusivity, the United Nations has confirmed the participation of fifteen refugee runners, adding to the diversity and global appeal of the marathon.
Chief Bukola Olopade, CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, emphasized the race’s ambition to elevate its status from Gold Label to Platinum Label, envisioning a future where the Lagos City Marathon stands among the world’s top-tier marathons.
With elite runners like Demis Kipmeto, Kelkile Gezahegan, and Valary Jemeli among others, Chief Olopade expressed confidence in the race’s potential to achieve Platinum Label status.
“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 Demis 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 19minutes, 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 revealed that the 9th Lagos City Marathon will also serve as a platform to select qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, underscoring the event’s importance on the international athletics calendar.
He highlighted meticulous preparations, including air quality control checks by World Athletics, to ensure a world-class marathon experience.
As anticipation builds for the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, all eyes are on February 10th, poised for a spectacular display of athleticism and global solidarity on the streets of Lagos.
