Recently updated on June 9th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam have emerged first place winners in the Nigerian male and female category respectively at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
With increase of ₦2 million in the 2018 edition, Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam were rewarded with ₦3 million each.
“I was not expecting this result because I prepared well ahead at least to improve on my personal best which is few minutes better than what I have today.
When I started full marathon, I ran 3:15 and in Ibadan I ran 2:30 and later 2:49 which is a slight improvement. For the race today, I was hoping to perform better which I did until about 21 Km when I started to feel pains in my leg, then I knew I had injury.
The injury actually slowed down my pace and gradually some of the Ethiopians ran past me, I only struggled to beat the last tape.’’
The Nigerian Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung also gave ₦500,000 each to Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam while he gave ₦100,000 each two sisters Damilola and Bimpe Oluwaseyi, who both completed the 10 km race.
Kenyan athletes dominated the male category as Kiprotich Kiroi, Ronny Kiboss and Peter Benjamin emerged in first, second and third place winners, taking home $50,000, $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.
Ethiopian athletes Ayelu Hordofa, Tigist Girma and Guta Herpha also swept the female category, emerging first, second and third respectively.
A total of 165,000 athletes selected from across the continent battled for prizes at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Over 40,000 participants took part in the 10 kilometre family race, as an impressive number of 125,000 athletes, including notable international marathoners, also contested for the $50,000 prize money in the 42 km-long race. The marathon kicked off at the National Stadium, Surulere, while the 10 km race started at the Lekki Roundabout, Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge.
Speaking before the event, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, emphasized the bank’s immense pride as a title sponsor of the Lagos Marathon, stating:
“Our approach to advancing Nigeria’s blossoming drive for health and fitness, through the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, also reflects our capacity to create value for stakeholders. We have made it our responsibility to encourage the general public in the adoption of lifestyles that promote good health and well-being,”
