Fifteen out of 45 invited foreign marathon runners, which include the world champion, Lornah Kiplagat, and last year’s Glo champion, Disi Dieudonne, arrived the country on Wednesday for the event holding on Saturday.
The athletes, who arrived aboard Kenyan Airways, were received by Glo marathon officials led by Harry Iwuala.
Kiplagat, two-time world marathon champion, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given her to run in Nigeria. The athlete, who competes for Netherlands also said Nigeria has a lot of positive sports image abroad and was happy to be part of it with her participation in the Glo, Lagos International Half Marathon.
On her expected performance on Saturday, Kiplagat said: "I am afraid, the course won’t be easy but I would find a way around it. Good runners accompanied me to Nigeria and I’m glad I won’t be running alone."
On the clinic she’s expected to conduct with Haile Gabreselessie, Kiplagat, who was accompanied by her husband, Peter Langerhorst, said the seminar will aim at motivating the local athletes to what the race is all about.
"Marathon is not magic; we shall be telling them that winning the marathon depends on determination and time one gives to training," she said.
She stated that the $50,000 prize money was good but if she wins, part of the money would be donated to her fellow citizens starving in some part of Kenya, where drought had ravaged harvest.
"Last week Saturday, I was involved in some donations in Kenya, some of our people don’t have food to eat because of drought, so I believe part of my winning prize (if I win) would also be donated to them."
For last year’s Glo Marathon Champion, Dieudonne, the second edition would not be easy but assured he would try his best.
"I was happy to have won last year, I’m hoping to win again, though, it won’t be easy because there are other good runners this time around but the course will determine who wins the race."
After airport formalities, the athletes were driven straight to their hotel and would begin light work out Thursday. On Friday, they would undergo route tour exercise where they would be driven around the marathon routes and later attend a clinic.