Lagos City Marathon: Kenya's Daniel Kinyua tops list of foreign athletes

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The general manager for the Lagos City Marathon, Yussuf Alli, has confirmed Kenya’s Daniel Kinyua as one of the headline cast for the 2017 Lagos race.

Still about two months before it second edition, the Access Bank-sponsored Marathon is generating interest among elite marathoners worldwide.

Kinyua is ranked among the top 10 in the world and will be competing for honours in Lagos.

With a personal best of 2:05:21, he won the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon.

Another Kenyan, Sammy Kitwaic, who won bronze at the World Half Marathon, and who ran 2:04:28 at 2014 Chicago Marathon and 2:05:45 at Amsterdam Marathon in 2016, is equally confirmed for Lagos.

Marius Kimutai, also from Kenya, with a 2:05:47 at 2016 Amsterdam Marathon 2016, and Ethiopian Siraj Gena, winner of 2016 Buenos Aires Marathon 2016, 2010 Rome Marathon and 2013 Istanbul Marathon, are also coming to Lagos.

The female field is equally strong, according to Mr. Alli.

Confirmed for Lagos are elites like Ethiopian Mamitu Dasic, Alice Timbili, Haliem Hussan Beriso and Emily Chekemoi Samoe of Kenya, winner of 2013 Barcelona International Marathon and 2015 1st Xiamen International Marathon, Taiwan.

At the moment, Mr. Alli revealed that elite athletes from 13 countries have confirmed to participate in the 2017 race.

“ Our projection is 50,000 runners and the response has been tremendous; we have distributed over 40,000 physical and the response online has been great,” said Alli.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that about 125 elite athletes have applied to be invited for the February 11 Lagos race.

However, according to General Manager Marathon, only 60 foreign elites athletes and 100 Nigeria elites will be invited for this edition.

“We are expecting 50,000 participants this year, so we welcome runners from all parts of the world but we shall cover travel expenses and accommodation of only 160 elite athletes, 60 elite athletes from different parts of the world and 100 Nigeria elite athletes based at home and abroad,” he concluded.