By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 3, 2023

The Abuja International Marathon made a big statement in its maiden edition on Saturday as the men and women elite category winners set new winning times for an inaugural international marathon in Nigeria.

Kenyan Emmanuel Naibet 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 time returned by the second-place 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 Ruth Jabet from Bahrain won in 2: 36: 08, 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 Bank City Marathon.

Meanwhile, Olukayode Thomas, the Race Director, 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 in Abuja, especially the fun runners and the students’ runners.

Thomas said his transition from reporting to the organisation and managing sports events would not have been possible without tutorials from Yussuf Ali, Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission.

“From the day former sports minister Bolaji Abdulahi nominated me into the AFN board in 2013, Alli has been mentoring me on the technical aspects of athletics. Even in the buildup to Abuja International Marathon I always consulted him. I also thank Unicentral management for giving me the platform to practice what Ali has taught me over the years.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted May 3, 2023

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