All Roads shut for Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, as 81 Elite athletes, 15 refugee, others compete for honours

Eighty one world class elite runners including large number of locals have confirmed their participation in the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, which comes up on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

The 81 elite runners, comprised of 29 gold label women runners, which the General Manager of the Lagos City Marathon, Yusuf Ali, has the potential of running a new course record on Saturday..

Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the initiator of Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, said 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 (8:27m) holder in the Long Jump noted that, the confirmation of over 81 world class Gold Label runners, is positive thing for the 9th edition of the Lagos City Marathon.

“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 2hours 05 minutes and 56 seconds, Kiptoo Edwin on 2hours 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.

Yusuf Ali, disclosed that, the 9th Lagos City Marathon will be used to select qualifiers for the next edition of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024.