Sports
10Km Race: Nigeria’s Daylop Stops Kenyan Clean Sweep In Abeokuta
Nigeria’s Patience Daylop, at the weekend, gave her compatriots reason to be hopeful of better days in long distance races, when she stopped what would have been a Kenyans clean sweep of honours at the second Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km race.
The petite Daylop was cheered by the fans in front of the Alake of Egba’s Palace, the finishing line of the race, when she came in at 36 minutes 31 seconds to take the third position in the women’s category of the event usually dominated by East Africans.
Daylop, who said she was inspired by the support of the mammoth crowd to run the ‘race of my life,’ disclosed that she would have done better if she had a good beginning in the category won by Kenya’s Shamila Kipsiri in 32 minutes, 22 seconds.
Viola Sepkosgei, also of Kenya, took the second position with a time of 34 minutes, 34 seconds.
“I am so happy to be among the elite winners of this race. I promise my fans that I will train harder to do better in the forthcoming race in Abuja,” she said.
As has always been the case in recent time, Kenyans had a clean sweep of the men’s race, with Peter Mwaniki (28:14secs), Kipyeko Kenedy (29:29secs) and Kibii Frederick (30:21secs) taking the first, second and third positions respectively.
Francis James won the Nigeria’s men’s category with a time of 31 minutes, 08 seconds, followed by Stephen Joshua (31:30secs) and Emmanuel Gyang (32:07secs) in that order.
With Daylop already taking the Nigerian women’s number one position, Deborah Pam (37:02 secs) settled for the second position, while Abiye David (37:31 seconds) was the third best Nigerian woman at the event.
For winning the elite men’s race, Mwaniki went home with $5,000, second-placed Kenedy took $3,000, while Fredericks got $1,000 for finishing in the third position. The elite women also got the same amount as the men.
Nigeria’s top three finishers (men), James, Joshua and Gyang were rewarded with N1 million, N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively. The country’s top three women, Dalop, Pam and David, also got N1 million, N750,000 and N500, 000 respectively.
Speaking at the end of the competition, an elated Bukola Olapade, whose company, NIlayo Sports Management, organizers of the race, said he was thrilled by the turn out and outcome of the competition.
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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