76 first class elite runners for Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

• Published date: 24 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Seventy -six first class elite foreign runners have been invited to compete in the first ever Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon slated to start at the National Stadium in Lagos on February 4.

'The Elite entries would have been more, if the organisers had not regulated it to a barest size over a week ago,' General Manager of the race, Yussuf Alli, said. 'Towards effective and efficient management of the race.

'The large entries was expected as it's one of the effects of a Gold-Label race. And Nilayo Sports Management is ready for it.'

Yussuf, revealed that majority of the invited foreign runners are from Europe, East Africa, North Africa, West Africa, Asia and South America with 47 men and 29 women expected by the organisers .

He stressed that 76 of the foreign runners had been officially invited by the organisers while the rest will compete to chase the Gold-Label status as they continue in their quest to garner requisite international points to attain first class Elite status as they grow professionally.

He noted: 'The Lagos City Marathon's quest to attain the Platinum Label race status, which is uppermost in the desires of the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd, will be boosted when two of the male runners finish the full marathon race in less than 2 hours 10minutes and three female athletes finish under 2 hours 12 minutes.'

Yussuf, a former African record holder in the Long Jump, noted that, for the 8th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Gold-Label race, the runners would have their running numbers in front and their names at the back of their vest.

'And to avoid any form of controversy, as clearly stipulated by World Athletics, there will be the photo finish device at the finish line of the race at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island,' he added.

Meanwhile, the Expo for the Access Bank Lagos City...