Lagos City Marathon

The origins of the event trace back to 1983 when the first marathon took place. The Lagos International Marathon is organized by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and was preceded by several recurring half marathons held in the city where athletes like John Cheruiyot Korir,{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sUDAAAAMBAJ&q=lagos+marathon&pg=PA7|date=1 March 2006|page=6|number=334|issn=0147-2968|title=2004 Lagos Half Marathon|journal=Running Times|publisher=Rodale, Inc. (Running Times magazine)}}

Paul Malakwen Kosgei{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2002-11-24-22-kosgei-67410457/276818.html|title=Kosgei Wins Lagos International Half Marathon|date=24 November 2002|website=Voice of America}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q00uAQAAIAAJ&q=first+lagos+marathon|title=AFN/MTN Lagos International Half Marathon|publisher=Newswatch Communications|page=46|year=2003}} and Dieudonné Disi emerged as winners.{{cite news|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/disi-and-chepkurui-triumph-ahead-of-40000-in|title=Disi and Chepkurui triumph ahead of 40,000 in Lagos|website=International Association of Athletic Federations (iaaf.org)|date=9 December 2007}}{{cite news|title=Lagos Half Marathon demise haunts AFN officials|date=7 October 2012|publisher=The Vanguard|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/lagos-half-marathon-demise-haunts-afn-officials/}}{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63|title=Running Times|page=63|date=1 April 2008|number=355|issn= 0147-2968|publisher=Rodale, Inc.}}{{cite news |title=Lagos declares readiness for Feb 6 International Marathon |url=http://encomium.ng/lagos-declares-readiness-for-feb-6-international-marathon/ |publisher=Encomium}}{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AcYDAAAAMBAJ&q=Lagos+Marathon+course+route&pg=PA57|page=57|title =4th MTN Lagos International Half Marathon|date=July 2006|publisher = Rodale Inc. (Running Times)}} The Marathon course, which spans a distance of about 42 km, starts at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, (where previous half marathons initially finished), continues along the Third Mainland Bridge, to the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge and finishes at Eko Atlantic.

Over 20,000 athletes competed on 6 February 2016 event which was sponsored by Access Bank.{{cite news | title =Access Bank opens Lagos City marathon account|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/access-bank-opens-lagos-city-marathon-account/|publisher = The Vanguard|access-date = 13 February 2016}}{{cite news | url =http://encomium.ng/5-quick-things-to-know-about-the-lagos-city-marathon/|title =5 quick things to know about the Lagos City Marathon|publisher = Encomium | access-date = 13 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.punchng.com/31016-2/ |title=Lagos ready to host marathon – Ayorinde |newspaper=The Punch|access-date=13 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/intl-marathon-lagos-restricts-movement-on/|title=Feb 6 Int'l Marathon: Lagos restricts movement on Ojuelegba, Anthony, Obalende, others|publisher = The Vanguard | access-date = 13 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com.ng/search?biw=360&bih=265&tbm=bks&ei=4Yy9Vu_dLuqn6AT9zbWYCQ&q=first+lagos+marathon&oq=first+lagos+marathon&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.12...10132.12258.0.12809.6.6.0.0.0.0.1803.6212.6-1j3j1.5.0....0...1c.1j4.64.mobile-gws-serp..5.0.0.i9H2YsbKsUE|title=Newswatch, Volume 36, Issues 14-25|publisher=Newswatch Communications Limited (Indiana University)|year= 2002|page=68}}{{cite news|author =Ken Maguire|date=10 February 2016 | url =http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/sports/international/security-fears-hang-over-african-marathons.html?referer=https://www.google.com.ng/|title =Security Fears Hang Over African Marathons|newspaper = New York Times|access-date = 13 February 2016}} The marathon course record was held by a Kenyan national, Abraham Kiptum who completed the race in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 21 seconds.{{cite web | url =http://www.bellanaija.com/2016/02/kenyan-wins-lagos-city-marathon/|title =Kenyan Abraham Kipton wins Lagos City Marathon|website = BellaNaija |date =6 February 2016| access-date = 13 February 2016}} The fastest woman was an Ethiopian national Halima Hussein Kayo, who ran a time of 2 hours, 38 minutes and 36 seconds.{{cite news |url=http://sunnewsonline.com/new/kenyan-wins-lagos-city-marathon/ |title=Kenyan wins Lagos City Marathon |author=Oluwole Farotimi |publisher=Sun News |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208081618/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/kenyan-wins-lagos-city-marathon/ |archive-date=8 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url =http://ynaija.com/414362-2/|title=Abraham Kipton, Sharubutu Philibus, Debebe Tolosa, Halima Hussein Kayo, Dinatu Yohanna, others #RunLagos at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon|author=Oreoluwa Peters|date=8 February 2016|website = YNaija}}

Kenyan national Abraham Kiptum defended his title, finishing the race in 2 hours 15 minutes 20 seconds while his female compatriot Rodah Jepkori Tanuyi emerged as the first-place winner in the women's category.{{cite news|url=http://punchng.com/sponsored-runlagos-abraham-kiptum-wins-2017-access-bank-lagos-city-marathon-find-list-winners/|date=11 February 2016|newspaper=Punch|title=SPONSORED: #RUNLAGOS: ABRAHAM KIPTUM WINS 2017 ACCESS BANK LAGOS CITY MARATHON! FIND LIST OF WINNERS HERE}}{{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/nigeria-sports-news/223227-kenyan-duo-win-2017-lagos-city-marathon.html|title=Kenyan duo win 2017 Lagos City Marathon|newspaper=Premium Times|date=11 February 2017|author=Tunde Eludini}}

In the event of 10 February 2018; French-Kenyan national Abraham Kiprotich finished the race while setting a new record time of 2:13:04 hours in the men's category while Ethiopian national Guta Alemenesh Herpha Guta came first in the women's category.{{cite news|date=10 February 2018|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-kiprotich-wins-2018-access-bank-lagos-city-marathon/|title=Updated: Kiprotich, Herpha win 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon|newspaper=Punch|access-date=10 February 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2018/02/10/kenyan-born-french-athlete-kiprotich-wins-2018-lagos-city-marathon-amidst-controversy|title=Kenyan-Born French Athlete Kiprotich Wins 2018 Lagos City Marathon Amidst Controversy|publisher=Sahara Reporters|location=New York|access-date=10 February 2018}}

A 10 km Family Race starting at Lekki Roundabout to Eko Atlantic was introduced in the 2018 edition to encourage participation from non professional runners for fitness, fun and health purposes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/access-bank-lagos-marathon-no-professional-athletes-for-10-km-race/|title=Access Bank Lagos Marathon: No professional athletes for 10 km race - Vanguard News Nigeria|date=2018-09-05|work=Vanguard News Nigeria|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US}}

Out of about 100,000 competitors in the 2019 edition which held on Saturday, 2 February, Ethiopian national, Sintayehu Legese won the race in a finishing time of 2 hours 17 minutes 28 seconds in the men's category. His female compatriot Dinke Meserete finished first in the women's category.{{cite news|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-sintayehu-legese-wins-lagos-city-marathon/|title=UPDATED: Ethiopians rule Lagos City Marathon|newspaper=The Punch|access-date=3 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/sport/ethiopians-rule-at-fourth-access-bank-lagos-city-marathon/|title=Ethiopians rule at fourth Access Bank Lagos City Marathon|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=3 February 2019}}

The 42 km race commenced from National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and ended at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. Both male and female 42 km runners competed for the grand prize of $50,000 while the second and third-place winners $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.

The race ended with Kenyan Olympian David Barmasai winning with a course record of 2:10:00 (Unofficial) and was awarded a cash prize of $70,000. And another Kenyan Sharon Cherop also won the female category.{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-again-kenyan-emerges-first-female-to-finish-lagos-city-marathon/|title=Access Bank Lagos Marathon 2020: I was determined to beat Ethiopians, says Lagos marathon winner |website=punchng.com |date=8 February 2020}}

Key:

{{legend2|#A9F5A9|Course record|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

Closing gala at the Lagos Marathon 2020.jpeg

Closing gala at the Lagos Marathon 2020 11 07 06 231000.jpeg

Closing gala at the Lagos Marathon 2020 11 06 07 672000.jpeg

Closing gala at the Lagos Marathon 2020 11 06 31 380000.jpeg

Closing gala at the Lagos Marathon 2020 11 06 01 717000.jpeg

Davido performing at the Lagos city Marathon gala 2020 10 27 10 919000.jpeg

{{reflist}}

{{Official website| http://www.lagoscitymarathon.com}}

{{IAAF Bronze Label}}

{{Lagos|state=collapsed}}

Category:Marathons in Nigeria

Category:Annual events in Lagos

Category:Annual sporting events in Nigeria

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1983

Category:1983 establishments in Nigeria

Category:International sports competitions in Lagos