Kenyan and Ethiopian runners dominated the 2025 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, securing top spots in both the men’s and women’s categories of the prestigious race. The event, which attracted over 30,000 participants, reaffirmed its status as one of Africa’s leading marathon competitions.
Kenya’s Edwin Kibet emerged as the men’s champion, completing the grueling 42-kilometer race in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 19 seconds. This victory marks a triumphant return for Kibet, who previously won the event in 2023 and finished third last year. With this win, he walks away with a $50,000 cash prize.
Trailing behind Kibet was fellow Kenyan Hehemiah Kipygon, who secured second place with a time of 2:16:37. Another Kenyan, Sang Cheruiyot, finished in 2:17:17 to claim the third position.
Speaking after his victory, Kibet expressed his determination to return to Lagos next year to defend his title.
In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Hirpa Guta stole the show, crossing the finish line in 2:37:04. She was closely followed by her compatriot, Aleminesh Herpha, who completed the race in 2:38:01. Kenya’s Jerono Peris secured the third spot, clocking the same time as Herpha.
In the domestic category, Nyango Boyi finished as the fastest Nigerian male runner, completing the race in 2:25:41. His effort earned him a ₦2 million cash prize, along with an additional $4,000 for securing the eighth position overall.
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For the Nigerian women, Blessing Shambor Solomon claimed victory, while Elizabeth Power and Patience Dalyopfinished in second and third places, respectively. Like Boyi, Solomon also received ₦2 million in prize money.
Despite the impressive performances, the marathon fell short of its ambitious target of a sub-2:10 finish, which is a key criterion for attaining World Athletics’ Platinum Label status. However, the event’s General Manager, Yusuf Ali, remains optimistic that the race has met other required benchmarks and is awaiting confirmation from World Athletics.
“Our goal was for one of the elite athletes to finish in under 2 hours and 10 minutes, as that is a major criterion for securing the Platinum Label. However, I believe we have fulfilled all other necessary conditions, and we are optimistic about being the first in Africa to attain this prestigious recognition,” Ali stated.
The marathon commenced at 6:30 AM at the National Stadium in Surulere, while the 10km race kicked off later at 9:30 AM from Grace Garden Event Centre in Lekki. Both races concluded at Eko Atlantic City, drawing a large crowd of spectators who cheered on the runners.
With another successful edition wrapped up, the Lagos City Marathon continues to establish itself as a premier race on the global athletics calendar, attracting elite runners from around the world and boosting Nigeria’s reputation in international long-distance racing.
