By Kreovant Media

18-year-old Gyang James from Plateau State has emerged the winner of the 2026 Ikogosi 17.5-kilometre Marathon Race in Ekiti State, as the competition attracted international athletes and participants from 28 states across Nigeria.

Gyang James finished the race in 57 minutes to claim first position, while his brother, Francis James, came second in 58 minutes, with Rochas Sunday, also from Plateau State securing the third position after completing the race in 59 minutes.

Other winners in the elite category for women include: Teyei Davou (1st), Tanko Nvou (2nd) and Vivian Obadiah (3rd); Arinde Miracle (1st), Bako Gift (2nd) and Ademisoye Adesewa (3rd) for female indigenous winners; Adeyemi Tunde (1st), Adetiba Abiodun (2nd) and Sunday Emmanuel (3rd) for male indigenous winners.

The marathon, which began in Ilawe-Ekiti at exactly 8:20am, ended at the iconic Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ikogosi-Ekiti.

Speaking on the significance of the competition, the organiser of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative, Makinde Araoye, said the fourth edition had recorded remarkable growth, with about 14,000 people registering for the race, including international participants from Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as athletes from 28 states of the federation.

Araoye said the initiative was designed not only to promote athletics but also to project Ekiti State on the international stage, stimulate economic activities, encourage tourism and provide opportunities for young people to discover and develop their sporting talents.

He disclosed that the competition had identified 10 promising indigenous athletes from Ekiti State who would receive financial rewards and further support to pursue international athletic careers.

According to him, the professional male and female categories attracted prizes of N5 million for first positions, N4 million for second and N2.5 million for third, altogether.

He added that the indigenous Ekiti category was introduced to identify and nurture home-grown talents, with the first-place winner receiving N2 million, second place N1.5 million, third place N1 million, fourth place N500,000, while athletes who finished between sixth and 10th positions would receive N200,000 each.

The Organiser urged companies operating in the state to support the marathon as part of their corporate social responsibility, stressing that increased investment would help transform the competition into a major international sporting event.

Araoye expressed optimism that the 2027 edition would be upgraded to an international marathon, attracting more foreign athletes and expanding opportunities for Nigerian long-distance runners.

His words, “My general impression is that Ekiti State is gradually being placed on the global map. We can see that the state’s economy is growing, its youths are being developed and empowered, and our communities are also witnessing development. That is the essence of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative.

“The fourth edition of the Ikogosi 17.5-kilometre race has been very overwhelming. We have recorded international participation from Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as participants from 28 states across the country.

“This year’s registration reached 14,000 people, making it a landmark and groundbreaking event for Ekiti State. Today, we have been able to discover young talents, particularly the top 10 promising athletes from Ekiti State.

“The plan of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative is to nurture these 10 athletes. Apart from the prizes they will receive, we also intend to sponsor them to participate in international athletics competitions. That is part of our vision.

“The plan of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative is to attract corporate organisations that can support the development of Ekiti State through this initiative.

“In other environments, companies operating within a state are expected to contribute to its development through what is known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We therefore expect companies operating in Ekiti State to support the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative”.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, described the marathon as an important platform for youth empowerment, talent discovery and national unity.

Asefon said the presence of foreign athletes provided young Nigerians with an opportunity to compete, learn and measure their abilities against international standards.

He urged the Ekiti State Government, particularly the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to invest in the 10 indigenous athletes identified through the competition, noting that sustained government support could help them develop into internationally competitive athletes.

The winner, Gyang James, attributed his victory to intensive preparation and determination, saying he had participated in the previous edition but finished fourth.

James said his disappointment in the previous race motivated him to return to intensive training under the guidance of his coach, adding that the Ikogosi Marathon had continued to provide a valuable platform for Nigerian athletes to develop their careers and pursue international opportunities.