Ethiopian duo of Ulfata Gelata and Dagne Siranesh Yirga, have on Saturday, February 12, emerged as the male and female winners of the 7th edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
The 42km race began at the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.
The moment when the Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu crossed the finish line.#RunForMore #ABLCM2022 pic.twitter.com/TyC3l14vZQ
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) February 12, 2022
Gelata, who finished as the first runner-up at last year’s edition, beat about 300 marathoners on Saturday morning to win the 42km race, claiming the grand prize of $30,000.
And the winner of the 42km race has crossed the finish line!
The race was not an easy one but the victory is worth every pain.
Congratulations!#RunForMore #ABLCM2022 pic.twitter.com/QFCnZXmq8C
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) February 12, 2022
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.
Congratulations to the winner Ulfata Deresa Geleta who finished the race in 2 hours 11 minutes and 54 seconds winning himself the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars (30,000 USD)#RunForMore #ABLCM2022 pic.twitter.com/uekF4eoTJR
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) February 12, 2022
Barmasai and Naibei went home with $20,000 and $15,000, respectively for their efforts at this year’s race.
Naibei and Barmasai won the 5th and 6th editions of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon respectively.
Presentation made to the 1st Runner up, David Barmasai who finished the 42Km race in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 33 seconds.
Congratulations on winning Twenty Thousand Dollars (20,000 USD)#RunForMore #ABLCM2022 pic.twitter.com/i3ALFhMp31
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) February 12, 2022
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.
Ethiopia’s Dagne Siranesh Yirga was the first woman to cross the finish line at 2 hours 33 minutes and 50 seconds. She was followed in second place by compatriot Alemenseh Guta and Kenya’s Naomi Maiyo in third place.#RunLagos #ABLCM2022 pic.twitter.com/8JIAtfW4Ja
— Made In Africa Sports (@madeinafrica_) February 12, 2022
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 Ethiopian will win both the male and female categories of 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.
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.
