World champion Haile Gabresellasie will lead 100 elite international runners to the next edition of the Glo Lagos International Half Marathon which will be held on Feb. 21, 2009 with winners carting home 210,000 U.S. dollars, two Kia Picanto cars and an additional sum of 3.5 million naira (about30, 000 dollars) for Nigerian winners.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Globacom, the title sponsor, at a world press conference in Lagos on Tuesday said it had raised the bar for the next edition of the Glo Lagos International Half Marathon by making special provision for Nigerian elite athletes who might not stand a chance of winning the star prizes against the international elite athletes and world champions who have already signified their intention to run the race.

Adewale Sangowawa, Globacom's Executive Director, Human Resources, announced the theme of the marathon as "Run for The Heart", adding that the theme enjoins every participant to run not only for the health of his or her own heart, but also for the health of other Nigerian. He disclosed that the marathon would be used to raise money for the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF).

"I am pleased to announce that Globacom has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF), to raise money for research into, as well as the prevention and cure of cardiovascular diseases," he said.

In a presentation, Omodele Sarafa-Yusuf, while breaking down the prize scheme, said the overall winners in the male and female categories, will receive 50,000 U.S dollars each, the first runner-up in the male and female categories will get 25,000 dollars each while the second runner-up in the male and female categories will cart home 15,000 dollars each.

Also, the third runner-up in the male and female categories will win 10,000 U.S dollars each while the 4th runner up in the male and female categories will win 5,000 dollars each.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2008)