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Abuja International Marathon Enlists Four Elite Runners

AIM

The AIM Race Director, Olukayode Thomas, who is also in charge of the race Media and Publicity, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, stating that the four gold labelled runners are two men and two women. 

The Abuja International Marathon (AIM) has confirmed the signing of four gold labelled elite runners to become the first race in Nigeria to have an elite men’s field that will return a sub 2:10 minutes. 

 

The AIM Race Director, Olukayode Thomas, who is also in charge of the race Media and Publicity, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, stating that the four gold labelled runners are two men and two women. 

 

The Director told journalists that the Chief Executive Officer of Unicentral Resources Management Limited, which is the licensee of the AIM, who is also the race Managing Director Zsuzsanna Ogunmiloyo, signed the contract with the runners on behalf of Abuja International Marathon. 

 

According to Thomas, one of the signed elite runners, Andrew Bren Kimtai with a personal best of 2:08: 32 tops the list, having won many races around the world including the prestigious Wahun Marathon and Venice Marathon.   

 

Another elite runner signed for the Abuja International Marathon which will be held on December 17 this year is Gilbert Masai with a personal best of 2:09: 49. 

 

Thomas said, “Our Managing Director Mrs. Ogunmiloyo is finalising details with nine other men gold label runners. Once the details are finalized, their names will be released to the media. We have also signed agreements with two female runners, Caroline Jepchirchir with a personal best of 2:26 and Naomi Maiyo with a personal best of 2:30.” 

 

He further revealed that the target is to get 21 gold label runners identified to sign contracts with Abuja International Marathon before the end of August. 

 

“Our race is scheduled for the last quarter of the year, a busy period for marathons and road races around the world. During the last quarter, we have the London Marathon, the New York Marathon, and the Berlin Marathon toward the end of September and we are all looking for runners that will raise the profile of our race from the same World Athletics elite field. So, it is important that we tie down runners that agreed to compete early. 

 

“With the three pacers that we have contracted also gold label runners, our dream of being the first race to achieve a sub- 2:10 minutes on Nigeria soil is achievable,” he said. 

 

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