Youngster, Fadekemi Olude at the weekend made history as she becomes the first Nigerian long distant runner to emerge champion at the inaugural 10km Lagos Women Run

The Ogun State born runner overcame all the oppositions from the over 1000 runners in the race to breast the finishing tape at 40 mins: 30 secs to take the first position.

Her closest rival was another youngster, Olamide Oluwaseun, who arrived at the finishing point at 41 mins: 29 secs, while Njoku Genevive coasted home at 42 mins: 03 secs to take the bronze medal.

The athletes took off from the starting point at the National Stadium, Lagos and raced through Ojuelegba to Jibowo, down to Oyingbo through Yaba and Ebute-Metta and connecting Costain to finish at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

An excited Fadekemi, who spoke with The AUTHORITY moments after the race dedicated her victory to God.

“First of all, I thank God for my running today. I never knew God will make me a champion today considering the fact that I’m a race walker not a long distant runner but I just decided to come and try my best and it paid off.

“My hard work and determination are not in vain; I’ve been training but no competition in race walking so this run came at the right time and I’ll say I’m so excited with my success here and hopeful I can be a better runner,” she said.

Initiator and coordinator of the Lagos Women Run, Mrs. Tayo Popoola, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of female runners at the event which was organised by the National Association for Women In Sports (NAWIS) and promised to make it a yearly competition

“I’m happy because I didn’t expect this (turnout), I was like; okay let give it a trial and the ladies came out en- mass, honestly we’re surprised. The support from then too was another thing that really encouraged us because the men were there for us, they were able to encourage us and I say it’s a good one.