Lagos City Marathon 2025: Kenya & Ethiopia Sweep Top Prizes In Thrilling Race

Lagos City Marathon 2025: Kenya & Ethiopia Sweep Top Prizes In Thrilling Race

Kenyan runner Edwin Koech emerged victorious in the men’s category of the 2025 Lagos City Marathon, held on Saturday in Lagos, Nigeria.

Koech claimed the $50,000 first-place prize, marking his second consecutive victory at the prestigious marathon. He previously won in 2023. His remarkable finish time of 2 hours and 14 minutes set a new record, showcasing his outstanding endurance and skill.……READ MORE

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Hirpa secured the top position with an impressive race time of 2 hours and 37.02 minutes. This victory cements her reputation as a dominant force in the marathon, making her the third female athlete in the event’s history to win multiple titles.

Among the local competitors, Nyango Boyi made headlines as the first Nigerian to complete the marathon, finishing in 8th place with a time of 2:25:41.58. His performance earned him a $4,000 cash prize and an additional ₦2 million for being the highest-placing Nigerian runner.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu actively participated in the marathon, emphasizing its importance in promoting fitness, sportsmanship, and community unity.

This year’s Access Bank Lagos City Marathon recorded an impressive participation of around 37,000 runners across the 10km and 42km races. These numbers were derived from the running kits distributed, out of 60,000+ registered participants, according to race General Manager Yusuf Ali, a retired Nigerian long jumper.

The 42km race began at National Stadium, Surulere, at 6:30 AM, while the 10km race kicked off at Grace Garden Event Centre, Lekki, at 9:30 AM. Both races concluded at the iconic Eko Atlantic City.

Since its launch in 2016, the Lagos City Marathon has grown significantly, marking its 10th edition this year with a prestigious World Athletics Gold Label. Organizers now aspire to attain the Platinum Label, a distinction that would make it the first African marathon to achieve such an elite status.