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\n<\/u><\/strong>Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode\u00a0on Saturday\u00a0unveiled plans to invest in training of Nigerian athletes to compete with elite athletes all over the world for the grand prize of the annual Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.<\/p>\n
Speaking at this year\u2019s edition of the tournament held at Eko Atlantic City (EAC), Victoria Island, Governor Ambode said he was tired of handing over the star prizes of the marathon to athletes from East Africa, assuring that concerted efforts would be made to reverse the trend and prepare Nigerians to compete favourably for the prizes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy promise to Nigeria is this; I’m tired of giving this award to the East Africans and so Lagos State is going to commit professional coaches and then we will go to Jos and then come back\u00a0in two years\u2019 time to give them (East Africans) fight for their money,\u201d the Governor said.<\/p>\n He commended all the athletes and organizers who contributed to the successful hosting of the third edition of the tournament, assuring that efforts would be made to make the fourth edition which will take place on\u00a0February 9, 2019\u00a0bigger and better.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to say a big thank you to all the participants and also the organizers. We have done Lagos proud again and we have done Nigeria proud again. This is the third edition and we are getting bigger, we are getting finer and this is what this is all about. We have had over a hundred thousand participants and we have broken all the records of last year and we are very excited about this.<\/p>\n \u201cI know we are going to do this again next year and so come\u00a0Saturday 9th February, 2019, we are going to have a bigger marathon and bigger prizes,\u201d Governor Ambode said.<\/p>\n Besides, the Governor expressed excitement at the introduction of a 10km race dedicated solely for Nigerians, assuring that prizes in the category would be made to be at par with the main marathon in subsequent editions.<\/p>\n Also speaking, Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung commended the State Government, organisers and sponsors of the Marathon, assuring that the Federal Government would partner with the State to prepare Nigerian athletes to compete at the top level with their foreign counterparts.<\/p>\n He also announced additional cash reward for Nigerian athletes who finished top in the male and female categories as well as young athletes.<\/p>\n Kenyan born French athlete, Kiprotich Abraham breast the tape\u00a0in two hours, 13 minutes, four seconds to emerge winner of the third edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon\u00a0on Saturday, carting away the grand prize of $50,000.<\/p>\n Abraham\u2019s time set a new Lagos Marathon record, three minutes better than the record set by his fellow compatriot, Abraham Kiptum in the second edition of the 42km annual tourney held last year.<\/p>\n Kenyan duo of Ronny Kipkoech Kiboss and Benjamin Bitok came second and third finishing\u00a0in two hours, 13 minutes and 26 seconds and two hours, 13 minutes and 29 seconds, winning $40,000 and $30,000 USD respectively.<\/p>\n In the female category, it was a clean sweep by Ethiopia as the trio of Alemenesh Herpha Guta, Tigst Girma Getayechew and Ayelu Abebe Hordofa came first, second and third to win $50,000, $40,000 and $30,000 USD respectively.<\/p>\n Iliya Pam was the first Nigerian to finish the 42km race\u00a0in two hours, 40 minutes, 16 seconds to win N3million, while Sharubutu Philbus came second\u00a0in two hours, 54 minutes and 16 seconds to win N2million and Kefas Williams also got on the medals table finishing third in a time of two hours, 58 minutes, 16 seconds to win the third prize of N1million.<\/p>\n There were also prizes for Nigerians in the newly introduced 10km race, which saw Sajo Ismaila (male) and Ona Salay (female) drive home a brand new saloon car each and other mouth watering prizes.<\/p>\n![\"_Z8B3815\"](\"https:\/\/akinwunmiambode.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Z8B3815.jpg\")
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\n\u201cYes, this is the bronze level; the intention is to take it to the gold level in the next two years and I know we can do it. This is more about the energy of Lagos. Beyond the fact that we are able to show the aesthetics and the improvement we have done in the last two and a half years, Lagos is getting better and then Lagos is getting more enjoyable.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n