The Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the top winners at the Gold-Label 8th Lagos City Marathon, will book qualifications tickets for the Marathon event of the next edition of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, France.
Olopade, disclosed that, the decision using the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon a qualifying race for the next Olympic Games event, was because of its Gold-Label status and the calibre of the foreign runners invited and registered for the 42kilometres Road Race.
“The runners are highprofile and they belong to the class of the best sets of road runners in the world going by their ratings.” This was disclosed to us by the World Athletics, Head of Running and Mass Participation, Alessio Punzi.
Olopade, noted that another big highlight of the Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is the use of the photofinish device to separate winners who finished in lightening speed. This will help separate the winners.
He added that: “The use of speed cameras capable of taking as much as 3000 shots will also be used at the finish line. This will help reconfirm the decisions reached at the finish line and make it error free.”
A total of 50,000 athletes, including 76 foreign runners from 22 countries across the world, participated in the marathon.
Among the world-class foreign runners that took part in this race are Kenya’s John Komen, who won the 2019 Athens Marathon at a time of 2:16:34. Kenya’s Barmasai David is another worldclass foreign runner with the biggest chances to prove a point at the race and Hayla Worku ran 2:07:32 at the Houston Marathon where he emerged champion in 2014. He ran 2:08:48 at the Praha Marathon in 2017, where he finished second place.
Olopade, said he is hopeful that the invited foreign runners would give good account of themselves by recording good results that will boost the aim of securing the Platinum Label status soon.
He also appealed to Lagosians to see the race as their own, adding that, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had put Nigeria on the world map.
“Considering the good weather we have at the moment, I am sure some of the foreign runners will achieve good results by finishing below two hours nine minutes. That will be a big boost to the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, and for residents in Lagos, we will continue to appeal to them to see this event as their own.”
Edwin Kibet wins the 2023 Lagos City Marathon men’s event with a time of 2:14:06s to pocket the $50,000 grand price.
Dekeba Tafa of Ethiopia ran a time of 2:14:54 while Bernard Sang of Kenya clocked 2:17:14 to finished second and third respectively.
Guta Herpha (Ethiopia) wins the Women’s category of this year’s Lagos City Marathon with 2:40:42 time.
The next Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
The Lagos State City Marathon is the fastest growing Marathon in the world.
Within 8 years of its inception the Marathon moved from its debut edition to the Gold Label race that now serves as qualification for the global Olympics event.
“It takes an incredible team & support from all quarters to achieve the Gold Label status, now, the aim is to get better & achieve the Platinum status.” – Amaechi Okobi (Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank PLC).
MOLATsportgist 