Again, Kenya athletes rule Lagos City Marathon

Bernad Sand reaches the finishing line in Saturday’s Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon

Kenyan athletes once again proved they are the undisputed leaders of long distance races as they dominated the 9th edition of the Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon held yesterday.

The Kenyans won all the top prizes in the men category of the 42 kilometer race and also took the second and third positions in the women category.

The race was flagged off in front of the National Stadium in Surulere at exactly 6.00am, but soon the humidity posed the biggest challenge to the runners as they raced to the finish point at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island. The 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon ran its full course without hitches, but there were no new records to celebrate as the organisers had wished.

However, the organisers deserve credits for delivering a good race and hospitality that Lagos can be proud of, and also to boost their credentials in the drive to achieve top five world marathon status.

On the hour mark Silas Cheprot, Geoffrey Birge and Bernard Sang separated themselves from the leading pack, but after 30 minutes of pacing, with his compatriots, Sang went ahead leaving Cheprot 50m behind at one km to go.

He had the luxury of checking his watch and watching his back if Cheprot was going to pull a surprised surge. There was no such thrilling finale as Sang coasted home effortless to clinch the title at 2.16.15. It was not the kind of result the Race General Manager, Yusuf Alli, wanted.

It was also six minutes late for the course record of 2.10.23secs held by David Barmasai of Kenya since 2020.

Silas Cheprot clocked 2.16. 54 and Geoffrey Birge 2.17. 44secs much to the delight of the Kenyan delegation.

In the women’s race, Urisa Kebene of