Lagos City Marathon: Kenyans, Moroccans, other stars arrive, set for epic race

Top runners from across the world expected to add sparkle to the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are now in town and in high spirit.

While some are making a return to compete in the IAAF Bronze Label race, others will be making their debuts, but nonetheless looking forward to snapping up the $50,000 1st prize at Saturday’s race.

Though the elite athletes are predictably and mostly from Kenya, there are also other top runners from Ethiopia, Morocco, Uganda, Australia, USA and Poland, among many other countries that would be running on Saturday.

In a statement, the organisers said the strong cast of runners for this year’s marathon is a big plus.

“The elite athletes started arriving on Wednesday,  while others strolled in on Thursday from different countries, it is a big plus that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is commanding this number of quality athletes, it should help in our quest to improve to a silver label.” 

Among those that have arrived and would be taking a shot at the top prize in Saturday’s race is Patrick Kipyegon Terer.

Terer has won races across the world from Prague to Turin in Italy and has equally fared well in other international races in Israel, France, China and Canada among many other places.

Also in town is Moses Kigen Kipkosgei who finished in third place at the 2010 New York Marathon.

Agnes Jeruto Kiptocich, the runner-up at the 2017 Paris Marathon has also arrived with the mission to dethrone Herpa Almenesh Guta who won the women’s race at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

The Nigerian elite athletes have also arrived in Lagos as they look up to, at least, breaking into the overall top 10 this year.