Nigeria’s Francis James and Blessing Shambaz yesterday emerged winners of the 2nd Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Race to go home with the winner’s prize money of $1,000 in a race that was officially flagged off by the First vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba, and supported by Mr. Nadin Khan, the president of the World Ultra Running.
James won the men’s race finishing at 30 minutes and 11 seconds to beat all opponents to consolidate on his victory in Abuja when he finished second best in the half marathon held in the Federal Capital Territory middle of the year.
James also emerged the Nigeria’s winner of the World class half marathon.
Read Also: NFF solicits more support from Nigeria Police
It will be recalled that James at his last major race in Abuja finished second place in a national half marathon race. He stressed that he used that race to prepare for the Lotus Bank Abeokuta Race and he was very happy winning the race.
He stressed that the victory at Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10m Race has given him the confidence to do better in other races coming up in Nigeria and its an indication, that he’s very close to making history for Nigeria in subsequent marathon races. He added that Nigerian runners will pull a surprise in the other races not minding the attendance of the East Africans.