Kenya's Ezra Kipchumba Kering has won the 11th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:11:55. While Kering showcased remarkable focus and endurance, his time did not surpass the official marathon world record of 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
The marathon commenced at Orca Shopping Mall on Ahmadu Bello Way, Eko Atlantic City, and concluded at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, with the race starting at 6:30 a.m. For the Nigerian athletes, Boyi Nyango was the first to complete the men's race, clocking in at 2:25:32, a performance that organizers highlighted with the phrase "Naija no dey carry last."
In the women's division, Ethiopian runner Meseret Dinke claimed first place, finishing the marathon in 2:37:36. Access Bank lauded her performance, describing her as "a seasoned champion who adds another medal today." This victory marks the sixth consecutive year an Ethiopian woman has won the Lagos City Marathon. Dinke has a strong history in this event, having won in 2019 with a time of 2:48:02 and again in 2021 with 2:28:51, showcasing her sustained dominance.
Notably, Deborah Badung made history by becoming the first Nigerian woman to finish the marathon this year, achieving a time of 2:55:46. Access Bank celebrated her achievement, announcing, "Lagos, stand up. Our queen is home."
The elite categories offered substantial prize money, with the first-place winners in both men's and women's races receiving $50,000, and prizes descending for the next seven positions. Nigerian elite runners competing in the national category were awarded N2,000,000 for first place, with prizes decreasing down to N50,000 for those finishing between seventh and tenth.
Simultaneously, the 10km race, which began at Grace Garden Event Centre, Lekki, and finished at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos, started at 9:30 a.m. and was underway at the time of reporting.
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