Izuchukwu OkosiEthiopian marathon athletes showed their prowess on Saturday evening as they emerged winners of the 2023 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon competition.
The Ethiopian runners claimed top honours in the half marathon men’s and women’s categories.
In the men’s half marathon, Gebresilase Abadi Haftamu of Ethiopia stormed to victory, securing a well-deserved first place and a hefty $10,000 prize.
While Kenya’s Alexander Njai Muhia, followed close behind in second, taking home $5,000, Nigeria’s Sadjo Ismael earned $4,000 for his third-place finish.
In the Women’s category Ethiopioa’s Belay Minsewo Abensah also snatched the top position.
Daylop Patience led the charge for Nigeria, claiming a fantastic second place in the women’s half marathon and earning $5,000 for her efforts. Maiate Yohanna Vera and Badung Pam Deborah finished third and fourth respectively, adding another layer of Nigerian success to the event.
The ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon offered generous prize money, acting as a powerful motivator for athletes across the continent.
The top ten finishers in the half marathon were richly rewarded, with each position receiving a substantial sum. From $3,500 for fourth place to $1,000 for tenth, the financial incentive fueled the competitive spirit and contributed to the overall success of the event.
The excitement wasn’t limited to the half marathon.
The five-kilometre family and fun race also saw enthusiastic participation, with the top five finishers receiving prize money ranging from $750 for first place to $200 for fifth.
This inclusive category fostered a sense of community and encouraged engagement from runners of all levels.
Race Director Gabriel Okon expressed immense satisfaction with the event’s success, particularly lauding the calibre of runners who participated.
Okon highlighted the growing stature of the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon and celebrated the improvement shown by Nigerian runners.
Francis Chuks Njoaguani, Director at ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development, extended gratitude to all those who contributed to the race’s success, including the Federal Capital Territory administration.
He further emphasized ECOWAS’ ongoing commitment to investing in initiatives that empower and improve the lives of youths across the West African sub-region.
Over 2,500 athletes registered for the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon competition.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
Follow Us