2018 Access Bank Lagos City
Marathon winner, Abraham Kiprotich has set his sighs on defending his title at
the 2019 edtion of the event which holds in Lagos on Saturday.
The Kenyan-born French
athlete, who finished last year’s race while setting a new record time of
2:13:04 hours in the men's category, said he is looking forward to snapping up
the 50,000 USD 1st prize up in the IAAF Bronze Label race.
The 33 year old has won three
out of his past four marathons, ending 2018 with a season’s best of 2:10:55.
“I know this year’s edition
will be very tough than last year, I know there are top athletes, who have
prepared very well and going for the same target, which is to win the race. I
am very ready to win this event again,” Kiprotich told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com during the world press conference heralding the competition at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos on
Friday.
While rating the Access
Marathon as one of the top ten in the world, Kiprotich, who specializes in 10K
run, 10,000 metres, 5000 metres, Half Marathon and Marathon said the weather
condition will not be a major issue to him in accomplishing his dream.
“This marathon is fantastic.
This marathon in Nigeria is among the top ten marathons in the world. It is one
of the marathon that has helped me and I am so happy to be here in Nigeria again.
“This weather is hot and I
am sure it will be hard for everybody and not only me. It will have the same
effect on everybody.Thousands of athletes will start the race and only one will
become the winner which I hope will be me,” Kiprotich told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.
Over five thousand athletes
from 58 countries will be participating in the 2019 edition.
The winner of the will smile home with a whooping sum of $50,000, the second placed athlete will win $40,000, while the bronze
medalist will go home with the sum of $30,000.
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