Ethiopia’s Gemechu Tolosa Wins Abuja City Half Marathon as Nigeria’s Gang James Sets New National Record

Ethiopia’s Gemechu Tolosa Dana has won the men’s elite race at the third PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, while Nigeria’s Gang James delivered a historic performance by setting a new national record in the 21km event.

Tolosa crossed the finish line in 1:01:56 to claim victory and the $8,000 first prize, narrowly edging out James, who finished just two seconds behind in 1:01:58.

The Ethiopian runner’s win marked another strong showing for East African athletes at the Abuja event, which attracted elite runners from across the continent.

James’s second-place finish was rewarded with $6,000 for the overall runner-up position, along with an additional ₦1.5 million for emerging as the top Nigerian athlete in the race.

His time of 1:01:58 established a new Nigerian national record in the half marathon, surpassing previous marks and signaling a significant breakthrough for Nigerian distance running.

Speaking after the race, James described the achievement as a career-defining moment.

“I am very happy to break the national record. I worked so hard for this moment, and to do it here in Abuja, in front of my people, makes it even more special,” he said . He credited the fierce competition from international athletes for pushing him to his best performance.

“Running against Gemechu and the Kenyans pushed me to give my best. I knew I had to stay with them till the end. This record is just the beginning for me,” James added.

Kenya’s Lampard Kingoo completed the podium in third place with a time of 1:01:59, just one second behind James, while his compatriot Enos Kipruto finished fourth in 1:02:06. Uganda’s Julius Ochieng rounded out the top five in 1:02:27.

The tightly contested race saw only three seconds separate the top three finishers, underlining the high level of competition at the event.

The race, organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited and sponsored by PremiumTrust Bank, attracted over 5,000 participants, including more than 120 elite athletes from Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

The third edition of the competition followed previous races held in 2024 and 2025, with organisers seeking to establish Abuja as a leading destination for international road-running events.