Posted by By Cosmas Omegoh on
Rwandan marathoner, Dierdonne Disi yesterday won the male category of the inaugural edition of the AFN/Glo Lagos International Half Marathon sponsored by communication giant, Globacom.
Rwandan marathoner, Dierdonne Disi yesterday won the male category of the inaugural edition of the AFN/Glo Lagos International Half Marathon sponsored by communication giant, Globacom.
Dis, wearing bib No 47, ran the race of his life to win the $50,000 prize money in a time of 1hour, 03minutes 5seconds.
Hot on his heels was Kenyan born Chebet Wilson who finished the race at 1 hour 03m.18s to take home $25,000.
Another Kenyan, Festus Langat returned a time of 1 hour. 03.28s to take the third prize of $15,000.
Two other Kenyans, Wilson Kebenen and Duncan Kibet won the fourth and fifth places to take home $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. They finished the race in 1 hour.04m.34s and 1 hour.05m.10s respectively.
Ethiopia's Drege Debel took the sixth position while John Cherunof. K from Qatar, Baze Berhanu from Tanzania, Mubaraka Hassan and Dickson Marwa Mkan also from Tanzania ended the race in the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth places respectively.
In the female category , Kenyan women proved that they are the best marathoners on the continent as they won the first four prizes on offer, leaving their Ethiopian competitors to pick the crumbs.
Nineteen year old Lineth Chepkirui returned a time of 1 hour.12m.06s to cart away the prize money of $50,000.
She defeated her compatriot Mary Keitany who came second to win $25,000. Another Kenyan Irene Kipchumba finished the race at a time of 1.15.21s to claim the third prize of $15,000.
Yet another Kenyan woman Pauline Wangui, coasted home to a time of 1.22.34s to win the fourth prize of $10,000.
The last prize in that category was won by Ethiopia's Berhane Adere.
Over 47,000 participants from within and around the world took part in the event, many of who merely ran just to add colour to the contest which attracted the presence of Chairman of Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC) Dr. Amos Adamu and other dignitaries.
The race, which began at about 7.45am, got off the blocks at Marina on Lagos Island. The participants raced through Awolowo Way in Ikoyi via Adetukubo Ademola Street, Sanusi Fafunwa, Ahmadu Bello Way all on Victoria Island onto Apongbon Bridge, before ending it inside the main bowl of the National Stadium in Surulere.
The first Nigerian to cross the finishing point was Stephen Jurbe from Plateau State, the second being Haris Ismail also from Plateau state while Danjuma Gyang also from Plateau State finished in the third position.
In the female category, Nema Alex from Plateau State came first, followed by Maria Kebang from Bauchi State and Jeneth Dung also from Bauchi State.
But unfortunately, Nigerians who took part in the event had nothing to show for their effort as the title organisers Globacom had insisted before the event that there wasn't going to be special prizes for them.