BEVERLY HILLS, April 10, (THEWILL) – BEVERLY HILLS, April 10, (THEWILL) – There were no surprises on Saturday at the Sixth Edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, where regular long distance race nationals of Kenya and Ethiopia had a strong showing to beat thousands of other athletes to the prizes in both the male and female categories.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Naibei breasted the tape ahead of the throng of marathoners for the male prize to win the 42-kilometre race, which took off from the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic terminal, in exactly two hours, 11 minutes, and 37 seconds.
For his exertions, the Kenyan picked up the prize money $30,000, leaving the Ethiopian duo of Daresa Geleta and Demiso Legese, who finished as runner-up and second runner-up, to $20,000 and $15,000, respectively.
In the female category, the Ethiopian Meseret Dinke finished ahead of the pack to become the 2021 Access-Bank Lagos City Marathon women’s champion, for which she grabbed her equal prize money of $30,000. The dominance of the Ethiopians in the marathon is telling as this is the fourth time an Ethiopian is going home with the female prize.
Dinke won the 2019 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon but was dethroned last year by Kenyan Sharon Cherop who set the former course record of 2.31.40.
Celestine Jepchirchir from Kenya grabbed $20,000 for finishing second and lDesta Nigist Mulune from Ethiopia, who came third got $15,000.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
