LAHORE, Jan 13: All is set for the third International Lahore Marathon for Sunday (today). The event having four races offers US$115,000 as cash prize for the first time.
Foreign runners participate in the main event — 42.195km marathon — in which athletes of 18 years of age and above are allowed to take part.
In the 10km category, runners of 16 years of age and above are allowed.
Local runners mostly participate in the 5km Fun Run, which is the third event while 3km paralympic for 11-year old and above is the fourth event, categorised in three sections — tri-cycle, wheel-chair, visually impaired.
Around 50 foreign male and female athletes have arrived in Lahore to participate in the event.
Organisers claim that they have received a total of 30,000 entries for different categories. But, it is learnt that the number of entries is below 20,000. It is said local runners have no charm in the race as they know all prize money will go to foreign athletes. Most of local runners have registered themselves for the 5km Fun Run.
The main race will start from the Punjab Stadium at 10am. After 10 minutes, the 10km race will start, followed by the Fun Run and special children races.
To provide security to the runners, the administration has decided to deploy 12,000 policemen along the route.
The runners in the main event will pass through Ferozepur Road, Qurtaba Chowk, Chauburji Chowk to Baba Saein Bazaar, Minar-i-Pakistan, and return to the starting point — Punjab Stadium.
The 10km race will be held on Canal Road.
The Fun Run will take a start from Liberty Chowk to Siddiq Trade Centre and back to the starting point.
Various associations of special people across the country have shown their interest in the event.
Pakistan has taken a lead by including paralympic race for the first time in the history of marathon.
Traffic will remain off the marathon route from 9am to 3pm. The administration has designated alternative routes for general public.
In the past two marathon races, the starting time was 8am. This time, the race will start at 10am.
Traffic remains thin on Sunday being weekly holiday and closure of the roads from 10am to 3pm may not affect Lahorites’ schedules, except in emergency cases, as two main government hospitals — Servis and Mayo - are on the marathon route.
The authorities concerned have put 1122 service, fire brigades and other agencies on alert to meet any eventuality.
There are reports that the provincial and district authorities have instructed schoolteachers to bring students in large numbers to the event.
Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi will be the chief guest on opening and closing ceremonies to be held at the Punjab Stadium.
Around 60 foreign athletes are likely to run in the 42 and 10km races. Most of them belong to countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe while officials of the race are from the United Kingdom.
Semeretu Alemayehu of Ethiopia, who came third in the last year’s event, will run again this time. His best time in the 42km race is two hours, seven minutes and 45 seconds.
Following are the names of top runners in 42kms race;
Male: D Dembeis, S Alamayau, E. Bekele, B. Turbe, A Gebramichaal (Ethiopia), Mark yatich, Jullus Mutal (Kenya), Jonas Larm, Anreas Carlborg (Sweden), Francis Naali (Tanzania), Sergey Alexandrove (Russia), Peter Mutisya (Kenya).
Females: M Demboba (Ethiopia), Louise Kangog (Kenya), Jane Rotich (Kenya), Tigist Tilo (Ethiopia), Sara Lisa (Sweden), Tatyanta Makarova (Russia), Ciga Navkaqsa (Ukaraine), Jeeny Ciague (UK).
10kms: Tawodros Shifaraw (Ethiopia), Kadir Burka (Ethiopia), Patrick Makau (Kenya).