Kenya’s Edwin Kibet Koech extended East Africa’s dominance in the long-distance event as he emerged victorious at the 8th edition of the Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon that took place on Saturday.
That surreal feeling!!
ABLCM 2023 winner #Runlagos #ABLCM2023 #PushTheLimit #RunLagos2023 pic.twitter.com/8bF2qohTcM
— Lagos City Marathon (@lagosmarathon) February 4, 2023
The 39-year-old was the first athlete to cross the finish line, shocking race favourites like Ethiopia’s Hayla Bazu Worku, who is one of the fastest runners in the world, to win the much-coveted grand prize of $50,000.
Koech, who required medical aid after the exhausting race, was unable to get a bonus from the organisers as he failed to surpass the course record.
He finished the race with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 6 seconds, defeating Ethiopia’s Dekeba Shefa and compatriot Bernard Sang, who finished second and third, respectively.
Shefa and Sang will both go home with prizes of $40,000 and $30,000, respectively.
Alemenseh Herpha Guta of Ethiopia was the first woman to cross the finish line of the 42 kilometre race, while Kebene Urisa and Kenya’s Naomi Maiyo came second and third, respectively.
Herpha Guta of Ethiopia becomes the first woman to finish the Lagos City Marathon 2023. #RunLagos #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/sqafkwNLF1
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) February 4, 2023
Nigeria’s Felicia Adetutu finished 10th in the women’s race and became the first Nigerian woman to cross the finish line.
Adetutu was rewarded with a prize of $2000 and N3 million, respectively, for her heroics.
The winners of both the men and women’s races secured qualifications for the marathon event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The 8th edition of the Lagos marathon began at the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island as thousands of athletes vied for the grand prize.
The last edition of the race was won by Ethiopia’s Geleta Ulfata, while Emmaneul Naibei and David Barmasai won the 5th and 6th editions, respectively.
