Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde runs 2 hours 53 minutes as Ethiopians dominate Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon 2025

Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde was among thousands of runners that competed and finished at the World Athletics Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon held on Sunday, January 19 in Houston, Texas, USA.

Makinde finished the race in 2 hours 53 minutes and took to his social media page to celebrate his feat.

‘Glad to have completed the Houston Half Marathon in 2 hours 53 minutes today. Though conditions were tough with freezing temperatures at 1 degree Celsius, I finished faster than the Berkeley Half Marathon which I ran about 2 years ago. I also took part in a 5k fun run yesterday which I completed in 38 minutes,’ wrote Governor Makinde.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian duo of Addisu Gobena and Senayet Getachew dominated the men and women’s race.

Gobena, 20, ran a new 59:17 lifetime best to win the race in a photo finish ahead of USA’s Conner Mantz who also finished in 59:17 to set a new American record.

The time is the fastest in the world so far this year and 10th fastest since last year. The duo also moved to joint 92nd on the all-time list as they became the 283rd and 284th men to run inside one hour in the event.

In the women’s race, Getachew, the 2023 World Cross Country Championships U20 champion ran 1:06:05 to win ahead of Weini Kelati Frezghi of USA (1:06:09 lifetime best) and Buze Diriba, another Ethiopian who ran 1:06:48 to place third for the second time in a row.

The 19-year-old’s time is the fastest time in the world this year, a new lifetime best that catapults her to 57th in the all-time list.