By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
A Cross River-born athlete, Sadjo Ismael and Blessing Sambo from Plateau state yesterday respectively won the first position in the male and female national competitions during the first Ebonyi State International Marathon.
Also, Musa James and Adamu Mazu, both who came from Plateau state, respectively, won second and third positions in the male national category of the 21.9km marathon race from Ishieke Junction to Kpirikpiri to Vanco Junction to Onubebonyi Junction and stopped at the Ebonyi State Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
But Charity Agufere, a Delta state athlete, came second, and Patience Dalamb from Plateau state took third position in the female national category of the race competition.
Among Ebonyi indigenous competitors, Agu Paul Okon and Modester Anyigor from Afikpo and Ezza North local government areas, won respectively the male and female categories of the marathon race.
Owoh Francis from Ezza North LGA came second, but Okoro Emmanuel, who hails from Ohaozara LGA, emerged third in the male category of the competition. Whereas Omaka Nkem and Faith Nwankwo, both from Ohaukwu LGA, respectively, won second and third positions in the female category of the race.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State who was a special guest during the grand finale of the marathon competition, commended the organisers and participants of the race.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, described Ebonyi as the most hospitable state in the whole world and noted that his administration made sure that almost all the states in the country were accommodated during the marathon competition regardless of tribe, colour or religion.
He charged the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Prince Richard Idike to begin a talent hunt in every area of sports, to enable his administration to support them with the necessary training and development of their skills.
Nwifuru gave prizes (money) to the winners from the first to third positions, ranging from N1,000,000, N800,000, to N500,000, respectively.
He announced that other participants in the competition would equally smile at home with a cash gift as an encouragement from the state government, under his watch.
Meanwhile, a member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah that participated in the marathon competition, Senator Obinna Ogba who was representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District and his successor, Senator Ken Eze described the event as a bold step taken by Nwifuru's administration to promote mental and physical development, social entertainment, unity and economic gains in the state.
