Naibet and former Olympic champion Jebet emerge champions at Abuja International Marathon

Kenya's Emmanuel Naibet Jebet and former Olympic champion Ruth Jebet have emerged champions of the maiden Abuja International Marathon.

Naibet clocked a time of 2:13: 45 to win the men's senior marathon race, which is the best recorded in any maiden edition of Marathon races in Nigeria.

It is the second time Naibet is winning a marathon in the West-African nation, having also won the 2021 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

His countryman Benard Sang was second in 2:13:49, and Ezekiel Koech finished third in 2:13:51, ensuring it was a complete sweep for Kenya.

In the women's category, Ruth Jebet from Bahrain stole the show dominating with a time of 2.36.08. Kenya's Mercy Kwambai was second in 2:38:17, and Dida Negasa from Ethiopia settled for third in 2:40:16.

Jebet, a 2016 Olympic Champion and two-time Diamond League winner in the steeplechase seem to have transitioned to the marathon event.

Her only race this season was at the Arab Cross Country Championships in Egypt in February, where she finished fifth in the 10km race, clocking a time of 34:09.

Jebet will look forward to racing more and target hitting the World Championships qualifying standards in her events.

During the marathon, there were also keen competitions for prizes in the 10km and 5km races, dominated by fun runners and students across the Abuja metropolis.