By Aliyu DANLADI
Emmanuel Gyang, the second Nigerian male to cross the finish line at the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, says his target for the 2019 edition is to finish among the top 10.
In spite of foreigners’ dominance in the fourth edition of the 42km race, Gyang expressed optimism that he would excel at the competition scheduled for Feb. 2, next year with no fewer than 150,000 participants.
Gyang, a foremost Nigerian distance runner, said in Lagos that though he had not started training for the competition, but he was optimistic that he would excel in the championships.
“My target is to be among the first 10 position internationally and among the top two locally.
“Although, I have not started training for the marathon because I am currently training for the Enugu half marathon scheduled for Nov. 24, and the National Sport Festival which is expected to hold in December in Abuja.
“After the festival, I will rest for one week before I concentrate fully on the Lagos marathon because it needs discipline during the training.
“The distance for half marathon and full marathon isn’t the same, in half marathon, you need more speed, but one needs endurance in the full marathon,” he said.
Philibus Sharabutu emerged the first Nigerian to cross the finish line in 2018, Iliya Pam came second, while Peter Maham came third.
