Access Bank Lagos City Marathon medal collection ends today

Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon say Sunday is the final day for participants to collect their medals after crowd trouble disrupted distribution following the 10km race.

In a notice issued to runners, the organisers urged participants who had yet to receive their medals to visit the designated collection centres across Lagos before the exercise closes.

“This is a quick reminder that today, Sunday the 15th, is the final day to pick up your medals from the designated pick-up locations,” the organisers said.

“If you are yet to collect yours, please make your way to any of the three designated medal collection centres earlier announced before the close of the exercise today.”

The organisers added that the exercise would officially end after Sunday, describing it as the last opportunity for runners to receive their medals for completing the race.

Medal centres announced across Lagos

Participants who have not collected their medals were directed to three collection points in Lagos.

The centres include the Puma Store at Ikeja City Mall in Alausa, the Puma Store at Circle Mall along the Lekki Toll Road, and the Marathon office at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Organisers also thanked runners for participating in what they described as a historic edition of the marathon.

The event, organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, drew thousands of participants across both the full marathon and the shorter 10km race categories.

Chaos disrupts medal distribution

While the elite 42km race concluded smoothly, the 10km event was marred by disorder at the medal collection point.

According to reports, impatient runners overwhelmed security personnel at the finish line, pulling down barricades to access medals.

Some participants allegedly grabbed multiple medals, while others who completed the race but could not reach the distribution point reportedly bought medals later from individuals who had taken extra ones.

The situation sparked criticism among participants, with several runners accusing fellow competitors and some volunteers of exploiting the confusion for personal gain.

Despite the disruption, the elite races produced strong performances. Kenya’s Ezra Kering won the men’s 42km race in a time of 2:11:55, while Ethiopia’s Meseret Dinke finished first in the women’s category with a time of 2:37:36.

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The full marathon started at Orca Shopping Mall on Ahmadu Bello Way in Eko Atlantic and finished in Victoria Island, with a 6:30 a.m. flag-off.

Meanwhile, organisers say they are reviewing their medal distribution process to prevent a repeat of the confusion experienced during the 10km race.