Records tumble as Kenyans dominate KGL Millennium Marathon
Kenyan runners once again underlined their dominance of distance running by sweeping the podium in both the men’s and women’s 21km races at the 2025 KGL Millennium Marathon in Accra last Saturday, smashing long-standing records in the process.
The men’s crown went to Gilbert Kiprotich, 25, who stormed home in a time of 1:00:59 hours, obliterating the previous event record of 1:02:05 hours set by Ghana’s Ishmael Arthur in 2022.
Although shy of his own season’s best of 58:27 minutes from Malaga in March, Kiprotich’s run was enough to secure him a massive ¢85,000 prize purse, boosted by an additional ¢10,000 record bonus.
Compatriots Alfred Cherunoi and Paul Eyanae made it a clean sweep for Kenya, clocking 1:01:04 hours and 1:02:12 hours respectively to bag silver and bronze, along with ¢50,000 and ¢30,000 in prize money.
Teenage sensation
The women’s race was just as emphatic. Teenage sensation Nympha Kiteta, only 19, produced the performance of her career, storming to victory in 1:07:42 hours, a staggering five minutes faster than her season’s best at June’s Zhenning Half Marathon in China.
Her time smashed the event’s previous record, ensuring another ¢85,000 payday. Fellow Kenyans Lucy Ndambuki (1:10:25 hours) and Eupke Muchiri (1:13:00 hours) completed the podium, collecting ¢50,000 and ¢30,000 respectively.
While Kenya reigned supreme in the elite races, Ghana found joy in the 5km category, dominated by senior high school students and local dignitaries, including National Sports Authority boss Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah.
Abotsi Daniel Gawuga, Emmanuel Kwatey and Germain K. Dzorgbesi took the top three spots in the men’s division, while Jennifer Anai, Tuolong Rener and Bramah Rabiatu claimed the women’s medals. Each winner received ¢4,000.
The marathon, sponsored by the KGL Foundation to mark its fifth anniversary, attracted thousands of athletes, casual runners and fitness lovers, combining competitive racing with community impact.
Participants enjoyed free health screenings, aerobics sessions and a lively post-race celebration, a reflection of the event’s growing reputation as one of Ghana’s premier road races.
KGL Foundation CEO, Elliot Dadey, hailed both the runners and the milestone moment for the foundation, describing the marathon as a symbol of the organisation’s commitment to sports, youth empowerment, health and social impact.
“I knew it would be big, but I didn’t expect it to be this huge – not just in Ghana, but across Africa,” he remarked.
“This marathon is more than a race. It’s a celebration of the values we stand for. Seeing the crowds, the athletes and the energy was incredible.”
Mr Dadey promised even greater ambitions for the years ahead, declaring that the next five years would bring bigger partnerships and initiatives to uplift Ghanaian communities.
