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The Eighth edition of the Lagos City Marathon will be held on Saturday.
The eighth edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be held on Saturday in Lagos.
The race began in 2016, with several improvements made each year.
After only seven editions, the marathon has earned "Gold Label" status from World Athletics and is ranked as Africa's second most prestigious marathon.
As we prepare for the race, here are Five things to know ahead of the race;
50,000 athletes to participate
The organizers of the race have announced that nothing less than 50,000 runners will participate in the global race.
The general manager of the Gold Label Race, Yusuf Ali, confirmed that gold label race runners are between 50,000 to 80,000.
"The Lagos City Marathon is already in auto drive. The Nilayo Sports Management Limited is ready for the large number of runners associated with the Gold Label races all over the world. Most Gold Label races in the world host between 50,000 to 80,000 runners,” he said
Ethiopians and Kenyans keep dominating
Since the first edition of the race in 2016, Ethiopians and Kenyans have been winning the race in both the men's and women's categories.
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Kenyan National, Abraham Kiptum, and Ethiopian National, Halima Hussein Kayo won the maiden edition.
Abraham Kiptum defended the title in 2017, while Rodah Jepkori Tanuyi from Kenya won the women’s category.
The last edition was won by Ulfata Deresa of Ethiopia and his counterpart, Dagne Siranesh Yirga.
Tega, Zlatan other artists to light up the race
UK trap artist Trill Tega and Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, known as Zlatan Ibile, and other artists have been lined up to thrill the audience at the race's finish line.
Sir Shina Peters, an Afro Juju crooner, will also appear as a special guest, and Niniola will perform.
Hayla Worku to lead elite runners
Ethiopia's Hayla Bazu Worku will be leading the team of foreign world-class runners that will participate at the Gold-Label eighth Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
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Tinbit Didey, a former champion of the Marrakesh Marathon, and Esther Macharia, a former winner of the Graz Marathon and winner of the Bregenz Marathon, are among the top-leading world-class foreign runners in the women’s category.
Nothing Less than 1000 foreigners will be in Lagos for the race.
Road closure and Alternative routes
The Lagos State Government has announced road closures and alternative routes for the Marathon.
Motorists are advised to use alternatives routes to avoid the road blocks for the duration of the race.
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