Julius OkorieKenya’s long distance runner, Edwin Kibet, finished 42km Lagos City Marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 19 seconds, to emerge champion for the second time at the weekend.
The 41-year-old it will be recalled won the 2023 edition with a time of 2 hours, fourteen minutes and six seconds. The victory on Saturday saw the kenyan, pocket first position prize of $50,000 about 6.4 million kenyan Shillings or N83.5 million.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAt the 2024 edition, Kibet finished third behind fellow Kenyan Bernard Sang, who won with a time of 2:16:49, and Cheprot, who placed second. This year, he did not only dominated proceedings, but improved his finishing time by two minutes, and 35 seconds.
Kenya continued its dominance in the men’s race as Kipygon Hehemiah finished second with a time of 2:16:37, while Sang Benard Cheruiyot secured third place in 2:17:17.
In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa claimed victory with a time of 2:37:04, marking her first win in the competition. Her compatriot Aleminesh Herpha, claimed the second position with a time of 2:38:01, while Kenya’s Jerono Peris secured third place with the same time of 2:38:01.
No fewer than 37,000 athletes participated in the 10km and 42km races respectively. Route covered by race dubbed Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, include Western Avenue, National Stadium Surulere, finishing at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
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Though Nigerian athletes as usual failed to shine in the elite division, they nontheless showed skill within their own category, with Nyango Gyang Boyi emerging the men’s winner, finishing in 2:25:41:58. He earned ₦2 million for his effort and equally claimed $4,000 for finishing 8th overall.
In the women’s Nigerian category, Blessing Shambor Solomon secured first place, with Elizabeth Nuhu Power and Patience Dalyop Mwanvwang finishing second and third, respectively. Like Boyi, Solomon won ₦2 million for her achievement.
Former Long jumper Yusuf Ali, who is General Manager of the race, revealed that 60,000 kits were given out to registered runners, an indication that about 23,000 failed to show up.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the 2025 marathon, promising that the state would provide more support to make the 2026 edition even bigger and better. The Lagos City Marathon, is in its 10th edition having made its debut in 2015.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
