Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are aiming for a clean finish as well as a faster time of two hours and ten minutes in the 10th edition, which will take place on Saturday, in order to earn the event the World Athletics platinum badge after a decade.
Yusuf Ali, the race’s general manager and an Olympian, said during a symposium for accredited journalists on Thursday at Lagos’ Teslim Balogun Stadium that the organizers are working hard to be the first in Africa to achieve the platinum medal.
“The most important thing is for us to get better. We are changing to a platinum label. There is no single platinum label in Africa and I think if we can have a clear finish. Right now, we have good numbers of elite runners participating this year. We have seven gold medal runners in male category, two in platinum, five gold label for female and one in platinum,” he said.
“We have ticked all the boxes needed for qualification for the platinum label. We are changing the status quo this year. Achieving the Platinum label category will be the first of such in Africa among other countries staging marathons. For this 10th anniversary, we have the elite athletes that can give us the Platinum Medal and also have our cross record which is two hours and 10 minutes.”
Ali, a former Director General of Edo State Sports Commission, also disclosed that some issues that arose from the last marathon had been fully addressed to put the race on good standing.
“Last year, the issue of water came up which we have also addressed. The organisers have added other incentives to make the 10th anniversary more memorable which include the appointment of pacers. In the area, we have a very big plan of having three pacers for the men category and one for the women category. The three pacers can also finish the race.
“We will be having a meeting with the athletes to discuss the issues about the pacers that they can also finish. One pacer will drop at 30km, the second pacer at 35km and the last at 40km.”
“Last year, the issue of water came up which we have also addressed. The organisers have added other incentives to make the 10th anniversary more memorable which include the appointment of pacers. In the area, we have a very big plan of having three pacers for the men category and one for the women category. The three pacers can also finish the race.
“We will be having a meeting with the athletes to discuss the issues about the pacers that they can also finish. One pacer will drop at 30km, the second pacer at 35km and the last at 40km.”
