By Nurudeen Obalola | The Punch
World marathon record holder, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, will be in Lagos for the Glo-Lagos International Half Marathon but he will not be competing with other runners for the $50,000 top prize.
The Ethiopian legend, who set the world marathon record of 2.03.59 in Berlin last year, had been billed to be the major attraction for the February 21 event. But the change in the race’s original December 2008 date has apparently led to his withdrawal.
He is however committed to be involved in the race and he will now be in Lagos on the eve of the event to conduct a clinic.
A top Globacom official, Modele Sharafa-Yusuf, explained in Lagos on Thursday the role Gabresselaisse would be playing.
She said, “Haile will arrive in Lagos on Thursday, February 20 and conduct a clinic for Nigerian runners the following day at the AstroTurf, Ikoyi. We want Nigerian athletes to be competing for the top prizes in long-distance races and who better to train them than the world’s best.
“He won’t be running but he’ll still be here in Lagos to make a positive impact on the Glo-Lagos Half Marathon.”
The 35-year-old Ethiopian will be assisted during the clinic by another world champion, Holland‘s Lornah Kiplagat.
The 34-year-old Kenyan-born women‘s world half marathon champion will, however, also run in the race along with conducting the clinic.
Kiplagat, who gained Dutch citizenship in 2003 after marrying Pieter Langerhorst, will be the headline act of the race surrounded by a strong field.
Kenya’s Luke Kibet, the reigning world marathon champion and the winner of the Singapore Marathon in December; Ethiopia’s Tsegay Kebede, who won the Beijing 2008 marathon bronze; and South African Hendrick Ramaala, a three-time winner of the Great North Run, are also expected in Lagos.