Abuja International Marathon sets new records

Abuja International Marathon sets new records

The new kid on the marathons and road races block in Nigeria, the Abuja International Marathon, made a big statement in its maiden edition on Saturday, April 29, 2023, as the men’s and women’s elite category winners set new winning times for an inaugural international marathon in Nigeria.

 

Kenyan Emmanuel Naibei’s winning time of 2:13:45 was faster than the previous record 2:16:21 set by compatriot Abraham Kiptum at the 2016 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Even the times returned by the 2nd & 3rd-placed Kenyan duo of Benard Sang (2:13:49) and Ezekiel Koech (2:13:51) were faster than the time returned by Kiptum.

 

The women’s elite field winner at the Abuja International Marathon, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Ruth Jebet won in a time of 2:36:08; this is also a record for a first marathon. It is faster than Ethiopian Halima Hussein Kayo’s 2:38:36 winning time at the 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

 

Meanwhile, Olukayode Thomas, Race Director of the Abuja International Marathon, on behalf of Unicentral Resources Generation Limited, the licensee of the race, has expressed profound gratitude to all the runners that participated in the first international marathon in the FCT, especially the fun runners and the student runners.

 

He said: “We thank everyone in FCTA, from the Senior Minister, the Junior Minister, the Permanent Secretary, the Mandate Secretary, the Director of Sports and all members of the LOC and other staff.

“We are grateful to Omoyele Sowore, Tope Fasua, Aku Aghazu, Queenette Auta, members of Abuja Run Club and others who encouraged hundreds to run with them.

 

“We thank Rotimi Pedro and company AfroSports that beamed Abuja to a global audience for four hours for the first time. We are also grateful to the security agencies, especially the Civil Defence, VIO and DSS”.

 

Mr Thomas said his transition from reporting, to the organization and managing of sports events would not have been possible without tutorials from Yussuf Alli, the Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission.

Thomas said the biggest thanks goes to the biggest stakeholders in sports, the media. “Without the media, the Abuja International Marathon would probably remain an idea. I thank my colleagues for their immeasurable contributions.”

 

Thomas said, “Now that Unicentral has removed the blemish of Abuja being the only iconic capital in Africa without an international marathon, residents of the FCT and visitors from all parts of the world should look forward to a bigger and better Abuja International Marathon.”

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