The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has made history as the first road running event in Nigeria to be awarded a gold label status by World Athletics.
The race, the second to be granted a label rating after the Okpekpe international 10km road race has now moved a step ahead to become the first gold label race in Nigeria and one of 38 of such races that have been sanctioned by World Athletics for the 2023 road race calendar.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is also one of only two Gold label races that will be held in the African continent in 2023 with the 10km Port gentil race in Gabon which holds in April.
The new status means the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon cannot go below the payment of $30,000 (marathons) and $10,000 (other distances) per gender minimum prize money for winners.
It also means the race must have at the start at least five athletes per gender with ‘Gold Status’, i.e. some of the top-ranked athletes in the sport, who are part of a rigorous out-of-competition anti-doping testing programme.
The 2022 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is scheduled to hold on Saturday February 4.
Also listed in the World Athletics 2023 road race calendar is the Okpekpe international 10km road race which has been scheduled to hold on Saturday May 27, 2022.
