Nigeria’s foremost marathon and road races club, High Altitude Athletics Club (HAAC) of Jos, Plateau State, is sending a strong field of elite runners to the 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, holding on Saturday, March 1.Stephen Nuhu, the club manager and coach, disclosed that over 30 runners will arrive in Abuja today ahead of the eagerly awaited event.
The runners who will compete in the half marathon include Sati Musa Bala, Mathias Nenfort Gofwen, Mandela Banki, Geofrey Koptin Gomam, John Dauda, Elisha Friday, Shaba Dare Eniola, Yohanna Friday, Gwet Tokbe Christopher, Shambor Blessing Solomon, Agofure Charity, Akusho Lydia Thomas, Danjuma Agnes, and Mathew Nancy.
Nuhu also disclosed that his club aims to win the men’s and women’s titles and also the 5km family race,“We have some very good young runners who have what it takes to win the 5km, our challenge is the 21km race, we are determined to beat the teams from other ECOWAS nations especially Ghana, Senegal and others who we are reliably informed are sending a strong team,” he said.
Nuhu commended the ECOWAS Commission for increasing the prize money and prompt payment, saying: “When it comes to prompt payment of prize money, ECOWAS Commission is number one, they will never tell you stories, you get your money once technical officials have certified you as the winner.”
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian Athletics Association and the Ghana Army have both expressed their readiness to storm Abuja with 20 men and women runners with the sole aim of winning some prizes in the men’s and women’s categories.Meanwhile, Gabriel Okon the Race Director has urged registered runners to collect the running number, vest, certificate, participants’ guide and others at the VIO Office, Federal Secretariat Car Park, Eagles Square, Abuja,“We are there from 9 am to 5 pm daily, registered runners and those that intend to register are welcome, they can fill out the form free and collect their kits immediately,” Okon said, adding there won’t be registration and collection of kits on race day.
