Kenya’s Bernard Sang on Saturday won the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with the time of 2:16:49.

Sang led compatriots, Silas Cheprot, with the time of 2:16:54; and Godffrey Birger, with the time of 2:17:43; who won the second and third place respectively.

BRANDPOWER reports that it was an all-Kenyan affair once again in the men’s category of the race, where they finished first, second and third respectively.

In the women’s category, Chala Kebene from Ethiopia, came first with a time of 2:41:01.

Kenya’s Ruth Aga returned with the time of 2:41:41 to place second, and Sharon Cherop, from Ethiopia, came third in the time of 2:42:00.

Kenya’s Bernard Sang, who came third at the 2023 Lagos City Marathon (8th Edition) improved on his timing to dust 3,000 other runners to win the 2024 race.

Sang said he had to work harder to win the race having practised for six months to win the 2024 race.

“I practiced hard to win this race because I needed to be faster, though I was unable to beat my personal best because Lagos is hotter,” he said

Sang also came first at the 42nd Istanbul Marathon, the world’s only intercontinental footrace, in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 49 seconds – short of five minutes in the Lagos race.

Sang, who also pocketed the grand prize of 50,000 dollars, expressed his desire to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The second and third winners in the men’s category also went home with 40,000 dollars and 30,000 dollars respectively.

BRANDPOWER reports that the 42km race, which began at the National Stadium in Surulere at 6.00 a.m., ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.

The Gold Label marathon, an annual event which was recently upgraded by the World Athletics, aims to be the best marathon in Africa to upgrade to Platinum by its 10th anniversary.

In all, over 81 world-class elite runners who are basically gold label athletes confirmed their participation in the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the owners of the Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, the United Nations, has also confirmed the participation of 15 refugee runners among the rich field of runners that will be participating in the 9th Lagos City Marathon.

The prime road race General Manager, and former Africa record holder in the Long Jump for 27 years, noted that, the confirmation of over 81 world- class gold label runners, is positive thing for the 9th edition of the Lagos City Marathon, especially as the organisers are preparing for the 10th edition of the race with the biggest prospect of uplifting the race from the Gold Label status to the Platinuum Label.

“Our target is to ensure that our registered world-class elite runners help propel the Lagos City Marathon to the Platinum Label.

This is possible with the calibre of runners that will be on the field on February 10. If we can produce five elite runners crossing the finish line at 2 hours 8 minutes, we shall most definitely climb to the Platinuum Label. Olapade believes that there is a huge possibility that the status of the Lagos City Marathon will change at the end of this race on Saturday, February 10.