It was not business as usual at the Premium Trust Bank Abuja international half marathon which took place this Saturday at the Federal Capital Territory as the Nigerian marathoners slugged it out with their East African counterparts.
Particularly, Nigerian Francis James against all odds returned second in a time of 1.08.02. Kenyan, Shedrack Ngumbau came first in a time of 1.07.58. It was indeed a big improvement for Nigerian marathoners who before now had left the big stage for the East Africans.
Speaking with our correspondent, Francis James, who had insisted that the Kenyans that have been dominating long distance races globally are beatable.
“The Kenyans are not invisible, they are beatable in the marathon that they’ve been known globally. With proper exposure, we are determined to give them (Kenyans) good run,” said Francis James after breasting the tape behind Ngumbau at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
Behind him in the third position was Ratcn Kenneta of Kenya in 1.08.55; and another Nigerian Gyang Emmanuel clocked fourth in 1.10.52 and Cameroon’s Adamu Shehu posted 1.11.08 to occupy the fifth position.
In the women’s international class, Nigeria’s Patience Daylop and Vilmuner Nicholas posted 1.24.51 and 1.29.11 respectively to settle in the fourth and fifth positions behind Gaspore Atalona of South Sudan; Toofrida Lodefe of Kenya and Rotto Nancy Jebet from Kenya respectively.
In the Nigeria category, Francis James and Vilmuner Nicholas emerged winners in the men’s and women’s class.
On the whole, 15 foreign elites and 42 Nigeria elites were among the over 2600 marathoners that featured in properly organised Premium Trust Bank Abuja International Half Marathon
Meanwhile, the 29-year old Kenyan, went home with a cash prize of five thousand dollars.
Francis James went home with a cash prize of 3,000 dollars, and one million naira, which was the winner’s cash prize for the first Nigerian to cross the finish line.
Third place, Raticm Kenneth from Kenya who emerged third place got the cash prize of 2,000 dollars.
In fourth place was another Nigerian, Gyang Emmanuel, whose performance reconfirmed Nigeria’s steady drive to end Kenyans’ dominance of marathon races on the African continent by the east Africans. He got a cash prize of one thousand five hundred dollars for his efforts.
Gyang Emmanuel, from Plateau state also finished as Nigeria’s second placed finisher to grab additional cash prize of N750,000.
Another Nigerian, Adamu Shehu, finished fifth place in the main race at one hour, eleven minutes eight seconds. He got a cash prize of one thousand dollars and a Nigerian male’s third place prize of five hundred thousand naira.
In the women category, the foreign elite runners cleared the top three positions, with South Sudan’s Gaspore Atalona beating all runners as she crossed the finish line at one hour, 20 minutes 23 seconds. She set the women’s race record. She also took home the champions’ cash prize of five thousand dollars.
Kenya’s Toofriada Lodefa finished second place in the women’s race at one hour 21 minutes, 37 seconds. She got a cash prize of 3,000 dollars.
In third place was Kenya’s Rotto Nancy Jebet crossing the finish line at one hour, 21 seconds, 58 seconds. She got a cash prize of 2 thousand dollars.
In fourth place was Nigeria’s Patience Daylop, who also emerged Nigeria’s first woman to cross the finish line. She got the Nigerian prize of One million naira and one thousand five hundred dollars in the international race.
In fifth place in the women’s race, Yilmune Nichola emerged Nigeria’s second place finisher to get a cash prize of N750,000. And in sixth place was Elizabeth Nuhu, who ran 1 hour 29 minutes and 16 seconds.
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