Nigeria elite marathon runners most of them members of the Jos-based High Altitude Athletics Club have revealed their priority for the year 2025- competing and winning the top ten positions at the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

Their decision is based on the lucrativeness of the race, especially the 21 km and the organizers’ prompt payment of prize money. 

Speaking to the media shortly before the Christmas break, Steve Nuhu the director of High Altitude Athletics Club and manager of most of the elite marathoners in Nigeria told correspondents that they have all agreed to prioritize the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

Said Nuhu, “We all left Pankshin where we normally train a few days ago to spend Christmas and New Year with our families, by the special grace we will regroup the first week of the new year, and our focus for the new year is the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

“We arrive at this conclusion because we have a very good chance of winning about eight of the top ten positions in the ECOWAS race because it is a half marathon. For example, if our club produce the winners of the men’s and women’s races that is $10,000.00 each which comes to about N40 million in today’s exchange rate we can’t get that kind of money elsewhere. 

“Even if we place fourth or fifth in the ECOWAS Marathon, it is more rewarding financially than what we will get when we win a full marathon elsewhere, we are grateful to ECOWAS because their race is empowering us and lifting us out of poverty.’’

Nuhu also praised the organizer for the prompt payment of prize money and the general organization of the race,

“We also thank the management of ECOWAS Marathon for paying our prize money immediately after the race, we have never experienced a delay in the payment of prize money, it is always a great experience and exciting moment for our runners and we look forward to the 2025 edition with innate joy” 

The 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon is slated for March 1, 2025. There are two races, the 21 km and the 5 km. 

The 21 km will start and finish at the ECOWAS Commission, Asokoro and the 5 km race will start at the Eagles Square and also finish at the ECOWAS Commission.

The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.

As part of activities to commemorate this significant milestone, the Commission is organising the 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, which will be held on March 1, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The event, which features 21km and 5km categories, is expected to attract runners and fitness enthusiasts across the continent and beyond.

In a statement signed by the Director of Communications & Media of the ECOWAS Marathon Olukayode Thomas, the 5km Race will begin at Eagle Square and end at the ECOWAS Commission in Asokoro Abuja, while the 21km half-marathon will start at the ECOWAS Commission and finish at the Commission. 

Race Director Gabriel Okon revealed that the race is open to all categories of runners.

“The event is for elites and fun runners and other classes of fitness enthusiasts from across the continent, all vying for their share of over $71,000 in prize money”. 

“The marathon is not only a celebration of athleticism but also a showcase of unity and the vibrant spirit of the region.”

Okon expressed his enthusiasm for the event, describing it as an unparalleled opportunity to bring people together through sport. 

“The ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon is more than a race; it’s a symbol of unity, empowerment and engagement of our youths and a celebration of healthy living. We are thrilled to welcome runners from across Africa and beyond to join this extraordinary event.”

Okon also revealed that the prize money for the 5km race has been increased, with the top ten finishers receiving cash prizes.

Registered runners will receive official race certificates, finisher medals, running vests, number bibs, participant guides, and other surprise gifts.

To register online, interested participants are to visit www.ecowasabujamarathon.org while forms can also be obtained from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Athletics Associations offices nationwide or Sports Council offices in the area councils across the Federal Capital Territory.

The ECOWAS race has grown to become one of the most significant sporting events in the region, positioning Abuja as a hub for international athletics.

With its theme of fostering unity through sports, the event promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo have been announced as World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024 in Monaco.

Following a vote by fans, Hassan and Tebogo received top honours on an evening that saw six athletes crowned in three categories – track, field and out of stadium – before the overall two winners were revealed.

Tebogo was confirmed as men’s track athlete of the year, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone receiving the women’s honour. Hassan claimed the women’s out of stadium crown and Tamirat Tola the men’s, while Mondo Duplantis and Yaroslava Mahuchikh were named field athletes of the year.

This year’s Rising Stars were also celebrated, with Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani receiving recognition.

World Athletes of the Year for 2024

Women’s World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)

Women’s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
Women’s field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)
Women’s out of stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
Men’s out of stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH)

Women’s Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH)
Men’s Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA)

“At the end of what has been a stellar year for athletics, we are delighted to reveal our list of World Athletes of the Year – both in their respective disciplines and overall,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “This group of athletes represents the very best of our sport and has this year redefined what is possible in terms of athletic performance.

“Our 2024 cohort set new standards in heights, speed and distance, including six world records and a host of Olympic and national records between them.

“I congratulate all our award winners, and all of the athletes nominated for these honours, and I thank them for inspiring us all with their performances this year.”

World Athletes of the Year Hassan and Tebogo both won gold and claimed multiple medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Dutch star Hassan’s medal treble in Paris was capped by her winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55. That performance came just 37 hours after Hassan claimed bronze in the 10,000m, and six days after her first medal in the French capital – also bronze – in the 5000m.

As a result, she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Games, and the first athlete since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men’s titles in Helsinki in 1952.

Tebogo also made history in Paris when he won the 200m, as he claimed a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana. He ran an African record of 19.46 – a time that moved him to fifth on the world all-time list – and that performance followed his sixth-place finish in the 100m final. He went on to form part of Botswana’s silver medal-winning men’s 4x400m team.

He dipped under 20 seconds for 200m a total of nine times in 2024, with those performances topped by his Olympic title-winning mark which remained the fastest of the year.

His fellow track athlete of the year, McLaughlin-Levrone, improved her own world 400m hurdles record twice, to 50.65 and 50.37, and claimed Olympic gold in that event as well as in the 4x400m. Tola, who joined Hassan in being named out of stadium athlete of the year, won the Olympic marathon title in Paris in an Olympic record.

World records were set by both field athletes of the year. Mahuchikh cleared 2.10m to improve the world high jump record before winning Olympic gold, while Duplantis revised his own world pole vault record three times, eventually taking it to 6.26m, and won the Olympic title.

“Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted,” said Hassan, who was in Monaco to receive her two awards. “I never thought I was going to win this one. This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing. I’m really grateful. What more can I say?”

Standing alongside Hassan on the stage at the Theatre Princesse Grace, Tebogo said: “It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year.

“This means a lot,” he added. “It’s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent. It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn’t expect this.”

During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember last year’s men’s out of stadium athlete of the year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road traffic accident in February, as well as other figures from the sport who have passed away in 2024.