The 2025 edition of the annual 42km Access Bank Lagos City Marathon saw yet another dominant performance by East African runners, with top spots claimed by athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kenyan runner Edwin Koech clinched victory in the men’s category, securing his second win after his 2023 triumph. Koech took home the $50,000 first-place prize, setting a record time of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Hirpa emerged victorious, clocking a time of 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 2 seconds. This victory marked Hirpa’s third win in the marathon’s women’s event.
Nyango Boyi made history as the first Nigerian to finish the race, securing 8th place with a time of 2:25:41.58. In addition to earning $4,000 for his performance, Boyi also won the N2 million top prize in the Nigerian category.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was among the participants this year, adding further prestige to the event.
The 2025 marathon saw approximately 37,000 runners compete in both the 10km and 42km races, with over 60,000 registrations. The 42km race began at the National Stadium in Surulere at 6:30 am, while the 10km race started at the Grace Garden Event Centre in Lekki at 9:30 am, with both races concluding at Eko Atlantic City.
Yusuf Ali, General Manager of the marathon and a retired Nigerian long jumper, revealed that the 37,000 participants were based on the number of running kits distributed, reflecting the event’s widespread appeal.
Now in its 10th year, the marathon continues to hold a prestigious World Athletics gold label and aims to achieve the coveted platinum label, setting its sights on becoming the first marathon in Africa to reach this milestone.
To accommodate the race, the Lagos State Government announced an eight-hour road closure and traffic diversion on Friday, affecting key routes from 5 am to 1 pm on race day.
