In the last edition of this endurance hunt, 17-year-old Gwom James Giang from Plateau State stole the show, clocking 39.8 minutes to clinch the top spot and a cash prize of N500,000 at the 2024 edition of the Calabar Marathon.
He was trailed by 36-year-old Shaba Dare Eniola from Ondo State and 22-year-old fellow Plateau native Yusuf Bapiye, who finished second and third with times of 39.12 and 39.19 minutes, respectively, earning N300,000 and N200,000.
Riding on the success of the last edition, organisers have announced that the 2025 Calabar Marathon, the third in its series, will return bigger and better, with N1 million up for grabs in both male and female categories.
The Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, made this known during a press briefing in Calabar during the week. According to him, over 500 runners are expected to take part in the 24-kilometre race, slated for Saturday, April 19, 2025.
“This year’s route will again cover the 12km stretch of the iconic Carnival Calabar route, done twice, with the race kicking off at 6:00 am from Millennium Park and ending at Marina Resort,” Ojoi said.
To accommodate the event, the entire 12km route will be shut down to vehicular traffic from 6:00 am until noon, allowing runners to safely compete in what is fast becoming one of Nigeria’s most anticipated long-distance races.
The star prize of N1 million will be awarded to the winners in both male and female categories, with second and third place finishers taking home N500,000 and N300,000, respectively.
Beyond the competition, the marathon is part of a broader campaign by the Cross River State Government aimed at positively engaging youth through sports and steering them away from drugs and crime.
The 2025 edition is expected to surpass previous years and draw a more diverse pool of athletes to further cement Calabar’s place on the Nigerian marathon map.
