By Ben Efe

Marathon runners from Commonwealth member countries are targeting picking up qualification standards at the Access Bank/ Lagos City Marathon billed for February 10, 2018.

The Commonwealth Games are billed for Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15 and the Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon being the first race of the year presents the athletes the opportunity to run qualification times. The entry standard for the Games is 2.19.00hrs for men and 2.45.00hrs for women.

“This is the first marathon before the Commonwealth Games. Many athletes from member nations have indicated their intentions to run here and get the qualification standard,” the Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon race coordinator and general manager, Yusuf Alli stated.

He added that the bar has been raised for the local athletes to enable them push themselves hard to reach world standards.

“We have removed  incentives like free accommodation for the local athletes. They have to achieve a standard of 2.10.00hrs as obtained internationally to be accommodated with the world elite athletes.

“We shouldn’t think that marathon is an exclusive reserve of East African nations. If we begin to train our own athletes from the scratch we too can achieve world standards,” added the former African long jump champion and existing national record holder.

Meanwhile it has been officially  confirmed two cars donated by GAC Motors  will be the top prize for the winners of the Men’s and Women’s 10km races.