Kenyan runners shine at Lagos City Marathon

The Kenyans shown their dominance of the long distance races by winning the first four positions in the men's and women's events of the 2nd International Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday.

The 42 kilometer race attracted 55,000 registered runners from 27 countries, including 64 foreign and 102 local elite athletes.

Abraham Kiptom of Kenya, who won the first edition, showed his prowess by defending his title with a time of 2:15:23, while his compatriots, Ronny Kipkoech Kiboss clocked a time of 2:15:25 to be second.

Kiptrotich Kiroi came third with 2:15:30, and Tuwei Dickson, also a Kenyan, came fourth with 2:16:50, while Dabi Tadesse Yae of Ethiopia placed fifth with 2:16:57.

In the women's event, Tanui Rodah of Kenya won the race by 2:37:52, followed by compatriots Fridah Lodepa in the second with 2:38:22 and Alice Timbilili with a time of 2:39:02 in the third.

The winner will cart away 50,000 dollars, runner-up 40,000 dollars and third placer 30,000 dollars respectively.

Speaking at the end of the marathon, Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos State, said his administration has begun steps to re-position sports in the state, assuring that no stone will be left un-turned to achieve the aspiration.

Ambode said the success of the tournament marked another leg of the government's dreams to make Lagos State the destination for sports in Africa.

The governor said the state would continue to explore and attract regional, continental and global sports events to drive home its mission, adding that the all-round development of youths through sports remained paramount.

On his part, Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director of Access Bank, major sponsors of the event, said apart from showcasing the fact that Lagos is truly a safe place, it had all the traits of world class tourney.

He said the marathon was also a pointer to the fact that Lagos was ready to receive the international world for business. Endit