Plateau Athletes Shine at Ikogosi Marathon 2026

Athletes from Plateau State dominated the Ikogosi Marathon 2026 17.5km Race, with Iliya Raymond Gyang finishing first in 57 minutes and 33 seconds, followed by Francis James in second at 57 minutes and 44 seconds, and Sadjo Ismael in third at 59 minutes and 16 seconds. The marathon, which started at the Ilawe-Ekiti Roundabout and ended at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, attracted elite runners from Nigeria and international participants from Kenya and Ethiopia.

In the female elite category, Blessing Shamboa won with a time of 68 minutes, followed by Akusho Lydia Thomas and Nvou Gyang Tanko. The event recorded about 13,722 registrations, reflecting the ambition to promote athletics and tourism in Ekiti State.

Makinde Araoye, the Convener of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative, stated that the marathon aims to create a platform for talent discovery and international competition. Financial rewards for elite category winners were N2.5 million, N1.5 million, and N1 million for the top three finishers.