Kenya’s Edwin Kibet wins Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Kenyan long distance runner, Edwin Kibet , on Saturday finished ahead  of other runners  to win the 10th edition of the  Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

 

Edwin Kibet  breasted the tape at 2:14:19:73 to emerge winner of the 42km  marathon.

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Another Kenyan ,Kypgon Nehemiah, came second ,finishing at 2:16:37:47 while his compatriot, Bernard Sang , claimed the third position ,finishing at 2:17:17;13.

 

With  Kibet, Nehemiah and Sang emerging as top three finishers,the Kenyans have once again dominated the podium ,like they did in previous editions of the marathon.

 

BRANDECONOMY recalls the Kenyans  also claimed the top prizes at the 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2023 editions of the marathon.

 

Ethiopian runners dominated the podium in the women’s race.

 

Guta Hirpa finished  ahead of other runners while her compatriot  ,Alemenesh Guta ,finished second and Kenyan Jeromo Peris finished third.

 

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, in his address at the marathon , said that his government would continue to prioritise the use of sports as economic stimulant.

 

“We will continue to support sports because of its immense benefits as stimulant of  economic growth.

 

“Also, Lagos will be bidding to host the next Youth Games by the grace of God,” he said.

 

BRANDECONOMY also reports that Kibet won the star prize of 50,000 dollars prize money, while the second finisher won 40,000 dollars and the third finisher won 30, 000 dollars .

 

The same prize money was given to each of the top three runners in the women’s category.

Dignitaries at the  marathon included Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Director-General of NSC, Bukola Olopade.

 

Others were Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports, Prince Anthony Adeboye, the Director-General of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, among others.

 

Though the organisers were targeting a finish of 2hrs: 10 minutes in Saturday’s race, the General Manager of the Race, Olympian Yusuf Ali said he is hopeful the outcome of Saturday’s race will be enough to clinch the Platinum Label.

“Our target was for any of the elite athletes to finish the race at 2hrs: 10 minutes, which is one of the major criteria to get the Platinum Label.

I know that all other requirements for the label have been fulfilled by the Access Bank Lagos City marathon and we are hoping to be the first in Africa to achieve the Platinum,. We are expecting confirmation from World Athletics very soon” Ali stated.