Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Saturday, participated within the 1st Enugu Metropolis Worldwide Marathon, finishing the 10km highway race in 45 minutes, whereas East African athletes cleared the primary, second, and third positions within the elite 42km full marathon.
Within the elite males’s class, Ken Kopos of Kenya, ran the 42km in 2 hours: 22 minutes. 32secs to set the course report and claimed the star prize of $15,000, whereas his compatriots, Steve Baswey and Bernard Sang positioned second and third, respectively, to earn themselves $10,000 and $5,000, accordingly.
Within the feminine elite class, Shaoline Chepriroi of Kenya completed in 2 hours: 44 minutes. 37secs to clinch the premium prize of $15,000 whereas Tilahu Birul of Ethiopia was second in 2:45:10 and walked away with $10,000 prize cash with Rita Busiengy third in 2:47:17 and earned $5,000 for her effort.
Nigeria’s Blessing Shambo accomplished the 42 kilometres in 2:48:04 and positioned fourth. She was rewarded with N1 million, whereas Charity Agofure and Elizabeth Pam completed in 2:55:03 and three:01:45 to clinch the second and third costs, respectively, within the Nigerian elite runners class. Agofure and Pam bought N750,000 and N500,000, accordingly, for his or her efforts.
Davou Gyang completed in 2:29:03 to emerge Nigeria’s finest within the elite class, beating compatriot Boyi Nyango with simply three seconds, whereas Iliya Pam positioned third. They bought money prizes of N1 million, N750,000, and N500,000, respectively.
Lydia Akusho, Esther Afigbo, and Mwantiti Davou got here first, second, and third, respectively within the ladies’s class of the 10km Highway Race, whereas Francis James, Iliya Raymond, and Boyi Gang positioned first, second, and third, respectively, within the male class.
Whereas congratulating the winners and contributors, Mbah assured all contributors of continued enchancment of the highway race occasion, noting that Enugu Metropolis Worldwide Marathon was consistent with his administration’s imaginative and prescient to place Enugu State because the premier vacation spot for funding, enterprise, tourism, and for residing.
“What we’ve got simply witnessed is a spectacular occasion. It’s a testomony to the ability of sports activities. Keep in mind that I advised you all that participated in our final 12 months’s Enugu Metropolis Half Marathon that we’re going to make the Enugu Metropolis Worldwide Marathon, a world occasion. Have we not carried out that?
“The Worldwide Marathon attracted elite runners throughout Africa. We’ve got lengthy distance runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea. Subsequent 12 months, we’re going to entice elite runners from internationally, not simply Africa. Our goal is to make the Enugu Metropolis Worldwide Marathon a significant spotlight within the calendar of the World Athletic. The world can be watching.
“In the meantime, what you might be witnessing just isn’t a happenstance. It’s connecting the dots. After we mentioned that we have been going to draw three million guests yearly and make Enugu state the premier vacation spot for tourism, these are all a part of the dots. Sports activities, for us, is past recreation. It’s a critical enterprise.
“We’re going to guarantee that by means of our sporting occasion, we’re going to nurture skills, goals can be born, objectives can be achieved, and abilities will blossom. We can entice numerous companies. Which means our enterprise will thrive. Folks will come to Enugu and they’re going to spend their cash,” Mbah said
He counseled and thanked the Commissioner for Youth and Sports activities, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu and his workforce in addition to the consultants led by Yetunde Olopade, who’s the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports activities Administration Restricted, in addition to the safety companies, amongst others for placing up an awesome present.
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The occasion, which was supervised by the World Athletics represented by Nadeem Khan, who can be the President of Worldwide Extremely Runners; President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria led by its President, Chief Tony Okowa and the first Vice President, Nigerian Olympic Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba, drew contributors from Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Nigerians, who trooped out of their numbers to compete for the prizes.
Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and former governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, whereas the Speaker, Enugu State Home of Meeting, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, federal and state lawmakers, in addition to commissioners and different officers of the state authorities got here out of their numbers to take part to witness the flag off of the race.
