Homegirl Alabi Wins Lagos Women Run In Style

Aminat Alabi has etched her name in history by becoming the first Lagos-based athlete to win the Lagos Women Run during its 10th anniversary edition yesterday.

Alabi, who was raised in a military barracks in Lagos, completed the race in an impressive time of 39 minutes and 25 seconds.

Historically, the competition has been dominated by long-distance runners from northern Nigeria, particularly athletes hailing from Plateau State. Joy Abiye of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps had previously secured victory three times in this prestigious event.

In the 2025 edition, 19-year-old Vivian Obadiah from Plateau State finished in second place with a time of 39 minutes and 55 seconds, while veteran runner Elizabeth Bawa, also from Plateau State, claimed third place in 40 minutes and 41 seconds.

Reflecting on her unexpected victory, Alabi expressed her initial fears about competing against the seasoned marathoners from the north who had previously taken top honours. She remarked, “First of all, I want to thank Almighty God for giving me this day because I was so afraid. I didn’t believe I was going to win. I was intimidated by the competition, but I remained consistent in my training. My only wish was to finish among the top three, as I thought I couldn’t match those already renowned in the race.”

Alabi acknowledged the crucial role her coach played in her success, stating, “My coach was instrumental in my achievement. He provided invaluable advice and continually assured me that I would finish among the top three. I trained even at 2 a.m. at times, as well as during the day. It was challenging to reach this point, particularly given my background. Throughout my journey, I faced numerous obstacles, especially while raising my two-year-old son, who has also motivated me to succeed. The routine to achieve this has been tough, but I can confidently say the sacrifices have been worth it.”

The top three finishers in this milestone edition of the Lagos Women Run were awarded cash prizes of N2 million, N1.5 million, and N1 million, respectively.