Yomi Omogbeja (21/11/2004)

Kenya's John Cheruiyot Korir has won the third MTN Lagos international marathon at the second attempt.

Korir, who was second at the maiden edition in 2002, carted away the $10,000 prize money after crossing the finish line in 63:05 seconds.

He beat fellow Kenyan Kiprotich Wilson to the second place in 63:13 seconds, while Ethiopian Alene Emere was third in 63.48 seconds.

On a hot and humid Saturday morning, the erstwhile Nigerian capital city witnessed the biggest road race on the African continent, with International stars from Ethiopia, South Africa, Morrocco, Senegal and Niger among the 33, 289 registered participants.

The field was the strongest since inception with winners of the first two editions, Kenyans Paul Kosgei (2002) and Elijah Nyabuti (2003) in the line up.

The top three finishers were among the top eight performers in the recent IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi.

Former champion Kosgei was forced to drop out of the race at 13 km due to an injury, but Korir still got a run for his money from the packed field, which also include a tough bunch of local runners.

Korir told nigeriasports.com after the race: "I am really glad to have won here in Nigeria.

"I have been looking forward to this day when I will be crowned champion."

Local rivalry

The third edition of the MTN Lagos International Half Marathon was better organised than ever and generated renewed interest in long distance running among local athletes.

A four-regional road race event, spread across four cities of Enugu, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, was introduced by the sponsors as a prelude to the Lagos finale.

Nigeria's Eku Wilson won a Kia car and a cash prize of N250,000 plus an MTN sim pack as the top Nigerian finisher, after he came home in ninth place in 1:10:08.

The Bauchi state athlete, who also won the Kaduna regional marathon, edged out his arch-rivals Plateau state's Danjuma Gyang and Danjuma Monday to the second and third positions respectively.

The first and second runner up were rewarded with with cash prizes of N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.

Wilson said: "I am really overjoyed, I cannot explain the joy that fills my heart at this moment, but I give glory to God who made this possible."

Kenya's Jennifer Chesinon, who had travelled to Nigeria with just a day's notice to replace another Kenyan runner in the race, consigned Ethiopian Leila Aman and South African Elena Meyer to second and third place respectively.

A delighted Chesinon got $5,000 for her efforts after winning in 1:16:34 and afterwards could not hide her excitement.

"Please invite me to next year's race,  I want to come back, it was a very nice race!" she cried.

Plateau state's Janet Dung led the hilly state 1-2-3 to win the local supremacy battle in the women category in a time of 1:34:60, from compatriots Edward Mercy and Azubuike Helen.

Janet, 16, said: " I have been working hard for the past 3 months to see that I win this event, to God be the glory, here I am today as a Nigerian marathon champion."

Full Results of the 3rd AFN / MTN Lagos International Half Marathon

Men:
1 John Korir KEN 63:05
2 Wilson Kiprotich KEN 63:13
3 Alene Emere ETH 63:18
4 Elijah Nyabuti KEN 63:48
5 Robert Kipchumba KEN 65:45
6 Abdella Meftah MAR 66:22
7 Youssef Songoka KEN 69:06
8 Dan Kabirou Mallam NIG 69:43
9 Wilson Eku NGR 1:10.08
10 Danjuma Gyang NGR 1:10.33
11 Danjuma Monday NGR 1:11.10
12 Abdallah Falil MAR 1:12.03
13 Souley Oumasrou NIG 1:12.14
14 Oumar Bachir NIG 1:12.37
15 Cheikh Ndiaye SEN 1:12.41

Women:
1 Jennifer Chesinon KEN 1:16.34
2 Leila Aman ETH 1:20.44
3 Elana Meyer RSA 1:24.40
4 Janet Dung NGR 1:34.45
5 Mercy Edward NGR 1:34.50
6 Helen Azubuike NGR 1:35.37