Kenya’s long-distance runner Emmanuel Naibei has won the inaugural Abuja International Marathon on Saturday morning, to take home the grand prize of $55,000.
The 42km event kicked off at 6.30am (WAT) at the FCT’s City Gate and Naibei clinched the honour after crossing the finish line at the Eagle Square ahead of other participants.
How Kenya's Emmanuel Naibei ???????? emerged as WINNER of the 2023 Abuja International Marathon.
Congratulations to all the runners ????????????????#Afrosport #AbujaMarathon #AfrosportProduction #Marathon #Athletics #Kenya pic.twitter.com/vuVrNwqy5M
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) April 29, 2023
The Kenyan, who ran the fastest time recorded at any first edition of marathon races held in Nigeria, capped a fulfilling end to a day that was initially filled with many obstacles for the organisers.
The 39-year-old is also no stranger to winning long-distance races in Africa’s most populous nation, as the win in the nation’s capital on Saturday was his second in Nigeria after he emerged as the winner at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in 2021.
Naibei was, however, not the only Kenyan who ended with a podium finish, as he was swiftly followed by his compatriots Benard Sang (2:13:49) and Ezekiel Koech (2:13:51), who finished in second and third, respectively, to cap off a clean sweep for the East Africans in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet emerged as the winner with a time of 2:36:08, while Kenya’s Mercy Kwambai was second with a time of 2:38:17, and Ethiopian runner Dida Negasa was in third with a finishing time of 2:40:16.
The Abuja International Marathon, which was the first of its kind in Nigeria’s FCT, also saw other individuals participate in the 10km and 5km races for fun runners and students, respectively, with many prizes won.
