PHOTOS: Seyi Makinde participates in half-marathon in US, finishes under 3 hours

Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, participated in the 2025 edition of the Houston half-marathon in the US. 

In a post on X account on Sunday, the governor announced that he completed the 21-kilometre race “in 2 hours 53 minutes”.

Makinde added that the finish was faster than his achievement at the 2022 Berkeley half-marathon in San Francisco, California.

He said he achieved the time despite the “freezing temperatures at 1 degree Celsius” throughout the Houston half-marathon race.

“I also took part in a 5k fun run yesterday, which I completed in 38 minutes,” the post reads.

The Houston half-marathon has gained popularity since its debut in 2002. It is part of the three-race annual sporting event in Houston, alongside the marathon and 5km race.

Addisu Gobena of Ethiopia won this year’s men’s half marathon, clocking 59 minutes and 17 seconds.

Makinde is, however, not the first Nigerian governor to participate in a marathon event. Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, participated in the 21.79km Coal City half marathon in 2024. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, finished the 10km Access Bank Lagos City marathon in 2022.

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