BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE LAGOS
The 2019 EDITION OF THE LAGOS WOMEN RUN witnessed a large turnout of participants with a huge boost from the presence of the Wife of the Lagos State State Governor, DR. IBIJOKE SANWO-OLU.
DR SANWOLU-OLU who flagged off the 2019 event also participated, running the 10 kilometres race from the starting point at the TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE to the finish point at the TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM in Surulere.
More than 10,000 participants took part in the race which was completed by two categories of runners; the OPEN CATEGORY for runners from ages 20 to 45 years and the veteran category for runners from 45 years old to 70.
DR SANWOLU-OLU has commended the organisers of the Lagos Women Run for inspiring participants to embrace healthy living and promoting total wellbeing of women through the annual race.
Kenyan athlete, CAREEN CHEPTOEK won the race ahead of Nigerian runners, DEBORAH PAM and ELIZABETH NUHU in second and third positions respectively.
CAREEN CHEPTOECK of Kenya clocked the time of 28 minutes, 55seconds to win the race.
CHEPTOECK who placed second at the maiden JAC Abeokuta 10km Race held in the Ogun State Capital last weekend was rewarded with N750,000.
DEBORAH PAM and ELIZABETH NUHU, both from Plateau state finished in second and third positions and got N500,000 and N300,000.
There were prize monies for the top three participants in the veteran category while other from 4th to 10th positions also went home cash rewards.
General Coordinator of the LAGOS WOMEN RUN, TAYO POPOOLA ascribed the success of the event to the Lagos State Government and corporate organizations while promising better and improved race next year.
“We are very grateful for support of the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Sports Commission. I want to thank all our sponsors and everyone that supported this event. It’s been a successful outing again and I want to assure you that we will keep on improving the race. We are happy that this has happen in the city of Lagos” POPOOLA said.
The Lagos Women Run which is the first and only women race in West Africa started four years ago as an event to prepare runners for bigger marathons, campaign against domestic violence and emancipation of women.
