Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday unveiled
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.
Speaking at this year’s 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.
“My 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 in two years’ time to give them
(East Africans) fight for their money,” the Governor said.
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
February 9, 2019 bigger and better.
“I 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.
“Yes, 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.
“I know we are going to do this again next year and so come
Saturday 9th February, 2019, we are going to have a bigger marathon and bigger
prizes,” Governor Ambode said.
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.
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.
He also announced additional cash reward for Nigerian athletes
who finished top in the male and female categories as well as young athletes.
Kenyan born French athlete, Kiprotich Abraham breast the tape in
two hours, 13 minutes, four seconds to emerge winner of the third edition of
Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday, carting away the grand prize of
$50,000.
Abraham’s 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.
Kenyan duo of Ronny Kipkoech Kiboss and Benjamin Bitok came
second and third finishing in two hours, 13 minutes and 26 seconds and two
hours, 13 minutes and 29 seconds, winning $40,000 and $30,000 USD respectively.
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.
Iliya Pam was the first Nigerian to finish the 42km race in two
hours, 40 minutes, 16 seconds to win N3million, while Sharubutu Philbus came
second in 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.
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.
The 42km race started at the National Stadium, Surulere by
6:30am and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, while the 10km
race also began from Osborne and terminated also at the Eko Atlantic City with
over 100,000 athletes battling for the various prize monies.
Dignitaries who graced the marathon include Minister of Sports,
Solomon Dalung;, his counterpart in Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed;
representative of Chief of Army Staff, Major General David Amadu; General
Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General, Enobong Okon Udoh; President of
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick; ex-Super Eagles
International, Austin Jay Jay Okocha; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr.
Paul Arkwright among others.
No comments:
Post a Comment