Two weeks left to register for the 3rd Globacom Lagos marathon

Submitted by Motunde Smith -... on 16 November 2009 - 5:13pm
Globacom's Head of Sponsored Assets, Mrs. Modele Sarafa-Yusuf poses with the male winners of the 2008 edition of the Glo Half Marathon - Source: AthleticsAfrica

Prospective participants at the 3rd Glo Lagos International Half Marathon race coming up on December 12, 2009 have a few weeks left to register as the road race entries closes on Monday November 30.

Reports from the registration and information desks of the marathon have also indicated that Nigerians are already showing excitement and expectation towards the December event.

The official website of the race, which recorded over 11,000 hits in the first 12 days of October, showed an average of 250 runners registering per day since the site opened for registration in October.

Some of those who are making enquiries about the next marathon predicated their interest on their experience at the previous edition.

"I must commend you for a wonderful, well-organized and lucrative marathon race for Nigerians. I was one of the runners last year. It was a thrilling experience", Seye Jacob, participant in the 2nd edition, wrote.

Forms for the Globacom sponsored event may also be obtained from any Gloworld shop or sports council offices country-wide.

Improved prizes

At a press conference in Lagos last month, the telecoms giant announced that there would be special prizes for the first three Nigerian male and female winners in the race.

The Nigerian winners will be given N2,000,000 each, second placed Nigerians (male/female) will receive N1,000,000 each, while the third placed Nigerians (male/female) will receive N750, 000 each. All those who finish the race will also receive goody bags.

Globacom's Head of Sponsored Assets, Mrs. Modele Sarafa-Yusuf said giving cash prizes to the Nigerian winners is to further motivate Nigerians.

"It is our hope that Nigerians will win the first level prizes totalling 210,000 USD but we are also tempering our optimism with reality as we know that road racing is a developing sport in the country.

"We hope that this will motivate Nigerian runners to take up road-racing as a serious sport and we plan to continue working with AFN to develop the sport," she said.