By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-02-10 03:39:18
The 9th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is set to take place today, featuring a record 88 elite runners. The race, covering a distance of 42km, will kick off at the National Stadium in Lagos at 6:30 am and culminate at the Eko Atlantic City on Victoria Island. Additionally, there will be a 10km race specifically geared towards Nigerian athletes, with a prize of N1 million up for grabs for the top finisher.
Bernard Cheti, a pacer for the elite athletes and a regular participant in the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, expressed the readiness of all the athletes to compete in the event. He emphasized the determination of the athletes to deliver strong performances, with the organizers aiming for a winning time of 2 hours and 8 minutes, a benchmark that would elevate the race to gold label status. “We are all looking forward to competing here; it has been fantastic coming here for all the editions, and I can say that this is one of the best races in the world,” Bernard commented during a press conference at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos.
Furthermore, Bernard stressed the importance of prompt payment of the winning prizes to the athletes, advocating for payments to be made within a month. In response, Yusuf Alli, the General Manager of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, assured that once all the winning athletes are cleared of any doping offenses, they would receive their prizes within the specified period. “The winning prizes for athletes are guaranteed, and the man in charge is ready to pay once all the winning athletes have been cleared of doping,” Alli affirmed.
Notably, the organizers are committed to meeting world standard requirements, with aspirations for attaining gold label status for the marathon. Alli highlighted the challenge posed by the high humidity in the region, making it difficult to achieve a 2-hour and 8-minute performance. However, he underscored the uniqueness of the race course, describing it as the flattest in the world and expressing hope that the athletes will deliver outstanding performances to elevate the event to a premier global ranking.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has consistently attracted top talent and has been lauded for its world-class organization, drawing praise as one of the premier races on the international circuit. With a record number of elite runners and a dedication to excellence, the 9th edition promises to be an exciting and competitive event.
