Kenya’s pride of place in long distance races was once again asserted at the Abuja City Half marathon with a complete sweep in both men and women races.
The duo of Kephar Namutala, and Edwin Kipyago came first and second while Uganda’s Ezekiel Chepkovomi finished third .
Namutala won the race in a time of 1hr:05mins:14:45secs to go home with the cash prize of 8000 US dollars while his country man, Kipyago finished second in a time of 1hr:05mins:39:73secs and a cash prize of 6000 US Dollars.
Ezekiel Chepkoromi finished third in a time of 1hr:06mins:05:09secs winning the cash prize of 5000 US dollars.
Nigeria’s Adamu Shehu recorded the country’s best performance finishing 4th overall in a time of 1hr:08mins:25:49secs and won a double cash prize of 2 million Naira and 4000 US dollars for finishing in the overall top eight.
Another Nigerian, Auta Monday finished 8th on the overall standing and second in the Nigeria category in a time of 1hr:09mins:45::96secs to go home with a double cash reward of 500 US dollars and 1.5 million Naira. Friday Elisha was Nigeria’s third best performer in a time of 1:10:30:52 in the men’s category.
In the Women’s category, Kenya’s Mercy Jepkemoi won the race in a time of 1hr:14m8ns:53:23secs while Nigeria’s duo of Shambor Blessing and Akusho Lydia made a historic feat by finishing second and third respectively in a time of 1hr:16mins:28:69secs and 1hr:16mins:34:67secs.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko commended the Organisers of the race, Nilayo Sport Management limited for continually raising the bar of road races in Nigeria with premium organisation of the race.
Dikko said ” It’s quite brilliant what we are seeing here and it clearly aligns with our vision at the Sports commission. If we take this kind of events very seriously it can give Nigeria a comparative advantage in road racing in the near future”.
Director General of the NSC,Bukola Olopade, also expressed confidence that Nigeria will soon be a force to reckon with when it comes to producing elite long distance runners.
Olopade pointed out “The visibility that the organisers, Nilayo Sports is giving to long distance in Nigeria is highly commended and Premium Trust bank Abuja City marathon is another success story that will be remembered for a long time”
