Kenyan long-distance runner Timothy Kibii has won the fourth edition of the Port Harcourt International Marathon, tagged The Green Race, taking home the $5,000 first-place prize.

Kibii emerged victorious in the competition held on Saturday in Rivers State, defeating approximately 3,000 athletes from Nigeria and other countries.

Speaking after the race, the Kenyan athlete expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying he had arrived in Port Harcourt hoping to finish among the top three but was surprised to emerge as the overall winner.

He commended the organisers and fellow competitors, describing the event as a positive experience.

Kibii, however, identified the hot weather as one of the challenges he faced during the competition, explaining that it differed considerably from the high-altitude conditions under which he trained in Kenya.

He also observed that the level of competition among marathon runners was higher in Kenya than in Nigeria.

The 21-kilometre race began at the Polo Club in the Government Reserved Area of Port Harcourt, passed through several streets across the city and ended at the same venue.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, said the marathon would help uncover sporting talents, particularly among young people in the state.

He also highlighted its potential to promote tourism and stimulate economic activities through increased patronage of hotels, hospitality businesses and other services by visiting participants.

Ihunda commended the organisers for successfully hosting the competition and expressed the local government's willingness to support future editions.

The convener of the Port Harcourt International Marathon, Goodluck Azunwena, said the initiative was designed to project the city internationally and establish it as a recognised destination for sporting events.

He explained that the long-term ambition was not only to attract international runners to Port Harcourt but also to develop and export talented athletes from the city to competitions around the world.

Azunwena thanked the Rivers State Government and partner organisations for supporting the event, expressing optimism that subsequent editions would deliver greater improvements.

The marathon, organised under the theme The Green Race, is part of efforts to promote sports development, healthy living, tourism and the international visibility of Port Harcourt.