Njoku retains Splash FM/Integrity Marathon title, Sherubutu wins in Ibadan

Genevieve Njoku has retained for third time the women's race crown at the 3rd Splash FM/ICPC Integrity Marathon Race in Ibadan, Nigeria winning the 42km race in 3 hours, 30 minutes and 43 seconds.

In the men's race, Philibus Sherubutu from Nasarawa State, competing for the first time, emerged as the winner, finishing the race in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 26 seconds.

Njoku, a mother of four, got N400,000 (about £1,600) and Sherubutu received N600,000 (abut £2,400) for reaching the finishing line ahead of 598 others.

The race, which started at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, went through Ring Road, Iyaganku GRA, Aleshinloye, Eleyele, Sango to the University of Ibadan.

From the University of Ibadan, the runners proceeded to Ojoo, Iwo Road, Gate, Bere , Molete, Challenge and then back to the stadium.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Njoku - an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State, failed to meet the 3:21:11 time recorded in the race in 2010.

Speaking with NAN, the 27-year-old woman flayed the disparity in prize money between the winner of the men's race and that of the women's.

Njoku said that since it was the same distance covered by the men and women, the prize money should be equal.

"The organisers have to do something about the prize money for the race. We ran the same distance, men and women, and so should have the same take home,'' she said.

NAN