Plateau Athlete, Gyang Wins Maiden Calabar Marathon
- Delta State’s Oguforo emerges female champ
- 12-year-old girl places 3rd, wins N200,000
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Plateau State athlete, Qwom James Gyang on Saturday won the maiden edition of the Calabar Annual Marathon, carting home a princely first prize of N500,000 in the process.
Gyang defeated over 500 runners, who participated in the male category, to win the 15 kilometers race in 39 minutes and eight seconds (39 mins. 08secs).
Shabadari Eniola from Ondo State, who came second in a time of 39 minutes,12 seconds, got N300,000 for his efforts while Yusuf Bapije also of Plateau State came third and carted home the sum of N200,000
In the female category, Charity Oguforo of Delta State ran a time of 44 minutes, and 38 seconds to place first, and got N500,000 for her efforts
Closely following in second place was closed followed by Elizabeth Power of Plateau State with a time of 44 minutes, 42 seconds, including the monetary reward of N300,000
However, the cynosure of all eyes during the race was 12-year-old Godsmind Eteng of Cross River State who finished in third place with a time of 52 minutes, 36 seconds. She was rewarded with N200,000 prize money.
Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, who flagged off the race, challenged youths in the State to take advantage of the annual event to showcase their sporting talents.
According to him, it is important for the youths to actively engage in sports given that the cash prizes presented to the winners are substantial enough to set up small-scale businesses that would help improve their livelihoods.
Akiba further said going by the theme of the event, “Say No Drugs”, the State government introduced the mini-marathon to refocus the youths’ attention toward meaningful and life-sustaining engagements.
He also announced that henceforth the Calabar Annual Marathon would become an integral part of activities in the State Tourism Calendar.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Cross River Tourism Bureau (CRTB), Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, commended Governor Bassey Otu for boosting the State Tourism Calendar by including the Calabar marathon as an annual event.
Prince Ojoi also said given the Governor’s rich ideas to scale up the Tourism Calendar, the State has become an attractive brand to both investors and tourists who flocked into Calabar to witness and appreciate firsthand the much-talked-about ‘Destination of choice’ for which Cross River is widely associated with.
