Deji Ogeyinngbo has been talking in regards to the Entry Financial institution Lagos Marathon for just a few months now. Deji will probably be overlaying the Lagos marathon on website this coming weekend, for RunBlogRun. That is Deji’s second piece on the Lagos marathon.
2021 Entry Financial institution Lagos marathon: Who and what to be careful for?
The Entry Financial institution Lagos Metropolis Marathon which is the largest mass participation sporting occasion in Africa’s most populous metropolis will function some fascinating elite races on the industrial capital’s streets on Saturday morning.
The good climate within the metropolis (26 levels) at this Saturday’s race implies that runners competing within the marathon might have probably their most temperate climate for the reason that World Athletics Silver Label Street race began in 2015.
In what guarantees to be probably the most joyous and uplifting version since its inaugural version in 2015, this 12 months’s marathon guarantees to thrill each native and worldwide audiences. Come 6am on Saturday morning, over 10,000 individuals will begin a 42.2km journey from the Nationwide Stadium, Surulere to Eko Atlantic as they hope to complete one of the vital daunting races since human existence.
Whereas this 12 months’s Lagos Marathon doesn’t boast family superstars such because the world file holder, Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, or Brigid Kosgei, each occasions are nonetheless bursting with high quality and excessive intrigue.
Let’s check out among the key contenders for this 12 months’s race;
Males
Matthew Kisorio (Kenya) (2:04:53)
That is the primary time a sub 2:05 runner will probably be gracing the Lagos marathon. That in itself is particular, contemplating the truth that Matthew Kisorio hasn’t raced in simply over two years. Regardless, the space runner continues to be a high marathon runner having gained or completed within the Prime 3 of huge races up to now together with the Beijing Marathon in 2019. He enters this 12 months’s subject as the one athlete to have gone beneath 2:07 thrice and beneath 2:08 5 occasions in his profession.
Titus Kipruto (Kenya) (2:05:21)
Only a few distance runners can boast of a 2:05 PB of their very first race. That was what Titus Kipruto’s achieved when he positioned 4th on the Rotterdam final 12 months October. Most elite {and professional} runners make an honest dwelling operating between 2:08 and a couple of:12. A prospect that makes Kipruto’s entry into the Lagos marathon somewhat fascinating as he might throw the cats amongst the pigeons.
David Barmasai (Kenya) (2:07:53)
The 2020 champion and course file holder with 2:10:23 returns to Lagos for the second time in his profession hoping to reclaim the title he gained two years again. Barmasai first made a huge effect in his first race outdoors Kenya when profitable the 2011 Dubai Marathon in 2.07.18, a time that also stays his Private Greatest. He has been scuffling with a knee damage since then and is trying to re-establish himself among the many elite on Saturday having simply raced as soon as annually since 2019.
Additionally, be careful for Ronald Korir (2:07:29) and Robert Kwambai (2:07:00) of Kenya as they may trigger an upset.
Ladies
Flomena Cheyech (Kenya) 2:21:22
Sitting 84th on the All-time World’s rating of the most effective feminine marathoner with a PB of two:21:22, Flomena Cheyech has a glittering CV over the marathon. The Glasgow 2014 marathon Gold medalist returns to highway racing for the primary time since 2018 having gained among the world’s finest races up to now. Her largest win to this point got here on the 2014 Paris marathon.
Sharon Cherop (Kenya) 2:22:28
It is going nearly a decade since Sharon Cherop ran a blistering race on the quick course of the Berlin marathon to clock a PB of two:22:28. Since then, she hasn’t been in a position to run beneath 2:23. Her efficiency in Lagos of two:31:40 nonetheless stands because the course file and he or she will probably be hoping to decrease that mark this 12 months.
Meseret Dinke (Ehtiopia) 2:25:12
Ehtiopia’s Meseret Dinke got here near breaking Cherop’s file final 12 months as she ran the course in 2:32:16. Since then, she has gone on to clock 2:25 in each Vienna and Valencia, two programs which are famed to be very quick. Dinke is comparatively younger, in comparison with Cheyech and Cherop, however that is what makes the race all of the extra thrilling.
After all, the Lagos marathon will nonetheless be a bit completely different this 12 months, with measures in place to make it Covid secure after final 12 months’s version. Working for golf equipment and charity programs have been suspended for this 12 months, whereas the highest prize for the winners for each female and male nonetheless stays at 30,000 {Dollars}.
Additionally, pacers have been introduced again for this 12 months’s race with a view to make sure the course file is taken down in each classes. The clock is ticking!