The General Manager of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Yusuf Alli, on Tuesday assured that the marathon’s push for a platinum label, an upgrade from its present gold label, was within a distance.
He gave the assurance in a statement on the number of elite athletes who had registered for the 2024 marathon.
According to Ali, the push for platinum labels will be realised sooner than expected.
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He said no fewer than 81 Elite athletes and 15 refugee runners have been confirmed for the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon
He said: “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, February 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.”
Ali, 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 10km race.
He added: “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 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; 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, February 10.”
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 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.
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