Gemechu Tolosa Wins Abuja City International Half Marathon
Ethiopia’s Gemechu Tolosa won the third edition of the Abuja City International Half Marathon on Saturday, clocking 1:01:56.
Tolosa, who ran a personal best of 1:01:51 at the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, maintained his impressive form to claim the Abuja title and the $8,000 winner’s prize.
James finished just two seconds behind the Ethiopian but made history by becoming the first Nigerian to run under 62 minutes in the half marathon.
The 18-year-old’s 1:01:58 shattered the previous Nigerian record of 1:04:18, set by Emmanuel Gyang Gwom in Nanning, China, on December 7, 2013.
His new half marathon time places him among fewer than 440 men in history to have run 1:01:59 or faster this year.
Kenya’s Lampard Kingoo finished third in 1:01:59, followed by compatriot Enos Kipruto in 1:02:06, while Uganda’s Julius Ocheng placed fifth in 1:02:27.
More than 5,000 runners took part in the race, which started opposite the Federal Fire Service on Mohammed Buhari Way and finished at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The event attracted more international participants than previous editions, with prizes ranging from $8,000 to $500 for international runners, while Nigerian athletes received between ₦2 million and ₦50,000.
