Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: Ethiopia's Geleta Ulfata ,

The 7th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday produced new champions as the Ethiopian duo of Ulfata Gelata and Dagne Siranesh Yirga finished first in the men and women's 42km race respectively.

Geleta, who finished as the first runner-up at last year’s edition upped his run this time to emerge as the proud winner of the $30,000 first prize money.

Though the Ethiopian’s winning time of 2.11.54 seconds fell short of the course record set at the 2020 edition of the annual race, it is the second-fastest ever in the history of the globally-acclaimed 42km road race.

Unlike previous years where the Kenyans were the pacesetters, the duo of David Barmasai and Emmanuel Naibei from the Eastern African country could only settle for second and third places respectively.

Barmasai and Naibei went home with $20,000 and $15,000, respectively for their efforts at this year’s race.

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Dagne Siranesh Yirga was the first athlete to cross the finish line at two hours 33 minutes and 50 seconds. She was followed in second place by compatriot Alemenseh Guta and Kenya’s Naomi Maiyo in third place.

This is the second time that an Ethpionan will win both the male and female categories of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

In the Nigeria category, Shehu Muazu and Fadekemi Olukemi were the top finishers who won the N1 million prize monies set aside for the indigenous athletes

According to the organisers, over 30,000 participants took part in Saturday’s race.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, former NBA star Olumide Oyedeji, among others, were part of Saturday’s exciting race, which was laced with some form of entertainment with performances from Teniola and Zlatan Ibile.

The next edition of the Lagos Marathon is scheduled for February 4, 2023.