Kenyan Athletes Sweep Titles at 2025 Abuja City Half Marathon
Prize presentation to the marathon winners
By Ikemefuna Asika
Kenya once again reaffirmed its dominance in long-distance racing at the 2025 Premium Trust Bank Abuja City Half Marathon, sweeping both the men’s and women’s elite categories.
In the men’s race, the Kenyan trio of Kephar Namutala, Edwin Kipyago, and Ezekiel Chepkoromi claimed the top three positions. Namutala won in 1:05:14.45, earning the $8,000 cash prize.
His compatriot Kipyago finished second in 1:05:39.73, taking home $6,000, while Chepkoromi placed third in 1:06:05.09 to secure the $5,000 prize.
Nigeria’s Adamu Shehu delivered the nation’s best performance, finishing fourth overall in 1:08:25.49.
He earned a combined reward of ₦2 million and $4,000 for placing among the top eight finishers.
Another Nigerian, Auta Monday, placed eighth overall and second in the Nigerian category with a time of 1:09:45.96, receiving $500 and ₦1.5 million. Friday Elisha emerged as Nigeria’s third-best male performer with a finishing time of 1:10:30.52.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Mercy Jepkemoi clinched victory in 1:14:53.23. Nigeria’s Shambor Blessing and Akusho Lydia achieved a historic breakthrough by finishing second and third, clocking 1:16:28.69 and 1:16:34.67, respectively.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, praised the organisers—Nilayo Sports Management Limited—for consistently elevating the standards of road racing in Nigeria.
“It’s quite brilliant what we are seeing here, and it clearly aligns with our vision at the Sports Commission. If we take events like this seriously, they can give Nigeria a comparative advantage in road racing in the near future,” he said.
The Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also expressed optimism that Nigeria will soon become a force in elite long-distance running, citing the impact of high-quality international marathons such as this one.
“The visibility that Nilayo Sports is giving long-distance running in Nigeria is highly commendable. The Premium Trust Bank Abuja City Marathon is another success story that will be remembered for a long time,” he stated.
