Seventy six first class foreign runners from across the world have been invited to compete in the first ever Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon which has been confirmed to start at the National Stadium, Lagos on February 4, 2023.
The General Manager of the race, Yussuf Alli, said at the weekend that: “The Elite entries would have been more, if the organizers had not regulated it to a barest size over a week ago. Towards effective and efficient management of the race. The large size was expected at 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.
“And out of the pool of registered foreign runers, the organisers have officially invited 47 male and 29 female world class foreign runners that will lead the bunch of runners in the race.
He stressed that, while 76 of the foreign runners had been officially invited by the organisers, the rest will compete to chase the Gold-Label status as they continue in their quest to garner requisite internatiinal points to attain firstclass Elite status as they grow professionally.”
He noted that; “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 competition jerseys.
“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.
