Since its inaugural edition on February 6, 2016, the Lagos marathon has become a marquee event on the global athletics calendar. Holding Gold Label status from World Athletics, the race has steadily attracted top talent from across the world, drawing tens of thousands of participants and growing audiences of spectators and enthusiasts in Nigeria’s commercial capital. The first edition alone saw over 20,000 runners take part.
Over the years, the marathon has evolved in scale and prestige, bolstered by increasing sponsorships and international recognition. Yet, despite the growing diversity of participants, runners from Kenya and Ethiopia have largely dominated the event.
Kenyan and Ethiopian Winners Through the Years
The male category has been particularly dominated by Kenyan runners, who have won the race in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, and now 2026. Ethiopian athletes have also made their mark, with Sintayehu Legese winning in 2019 and Ulfata Deresa claiming the 2022 title.
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| Kenyan runner, Ezra Kering/ Photo Credit: LTV (X) |
Here’s a full list of past male winners:
- 2016: Abraham Kiptum – 2:39:00
- 2017: Abraham Kiptum – set a new record
- 2018: Abraham Kiprotich – 2:13:00
- 2019: Sintayehu Legese (Ethiopia) – 2:17:28
- 2020: David Barmasai – 2:10:00
- 2021: Emmanuel Naibei – 2:15:04
- 2022: Ulfata Deresa (Ethiopia) – 2:11:54
- 2023: Edwin Kibet – 2:14:00
- 2024: Bernard Sang – 2:16:49
- 2025: Edwin Kibet – 2:14:00
- 2026: Ezra Kering – 2:11:55
A Growing Global Event
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has become more than just a race—it is a symbol of Nigeria’s place on the international athletics stage. Its Gold Label status attracts world-class competitors, while the increasing fan base and media coverage highlight the city’s growing reputation as a hub for major sporting events.
Ezra Kering’s victory continues Kenya’s remarkable streak in Lagos and adds to the country’s legacy of producing world-class long-distance runners who dominate the marathon circuit year after year.