Sports
Plateau Wins 2022 Lagos Women Run
Maisaje Vera-Yohanna from Plateau State has emerged the winner of the 2022 edition of the Lagos Women Run.
She finished the 10km race in a time of 29.38.72 to emerge the winner of the seventh edition of the Lagos Women Run which took place on Saturday.
Lagos State’s Haruna Hauwawu came a close second as she also broke the half-hour mark with a finish time of 29.27.59 while Delta State’s Charity Agofure was third with a time of 30.13.17
Despite the star-studded list of elite athletes on parade, Vera Yohanna, who is a teenager held sway right from the start point at the Onikan Roundabout and though she was intermitently overtaken at different times, she had enough firepower in her to breast the tape first at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Finish point.
Speaking to journalists after her triumph at the Lagos Women Run, Vera-Yohanna said she was excited to win the prestigious race, having put in so much hard work in the past months.
“I am very happy to win the Lagos Women Run, I have been training hard for this race and I am happy that God gave me the victory,” she said.
Though Vera-Yohanna’s winning time falls short of the Course Record of 28: 55 secs set in 2019 by Kenyan’s Cheptoeck Careen, it remains the fastest-ever winning time by a Nigerian at the Lagos Women Run.
While the top three positions in the Open Category were evenly spread across three states; Plateau, Lagos and Delta, there was a clean sweep in the Veteran Category where the Plateau State trio of Elizabeth Nuhu, Steven Kundung and Janet Dung claimed the top three positions.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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