Ethiopia’s Gabresilase Abadi Haftamu and compatriot, Belay Minsevo Aberash on Saturday emerged winners of the second edition of the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.
While Haftamu won the male race, Aberash was the winner of the female race and both went home with $10,000 each and gold medals.
Alexander Njai Muhia, Sajo Ismael, Mwanvwang Dalyop Patience and Maiate Yohanna Vera, all Nigerians, emerged as first and second runners-up in their categories. While Njai and Ismael emerged won the second and third positions in the male categories with $5,000 and $4,000, silver and bronze medals for their efforts respectively, Mwanvwang and Maiate did same in the female race with the same prize money and medals.
Speaking with Sporting Tribune, Director Youth and Sports Development Centre of ECOWAS and the Chairman of the Marathon, Ambassador Francis Njoaguani, commended the athletes for displaying the spirit of sportsmanship. He said plans have already started for the third edition of the race next year with the aim to surpass the successes recorded this year.Â
He stated that plans are on to expand the scope of the marathon to capture as many runners as possible from across the world and to ensure that it becomes one of the biggest marathons in West Africa.
“We are already looking at the next edition next year. As soon as we resume for the New Year, we’ll begin plan for the third edition of ECOWAS Marathon hopefully in November or December next year. We are going to learn a lot from the experiences we have garnered here, it was not perfect, no human endeavour is, we know that there are things that we learn from and we have taken those things into account in preparing for the next edition come 2024.
“We have runners from across the regions. We have seen Chinese, Koreans, Ethiopians, Kenyans and others. We hope to expand the scope to capture as many runners as possible from across the world. Our plan is to ensure that this program becomes one of the biggest marathons in West Africa by professional Federations and athletics bodies around the world,” Njoaguani told Sporting Tribune.
President of ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency, Omar Alieu, who was represented by his Chief of staff, Abdul Kolley, said sports is all about promoting friendship among the youths and to engage them positively at all times.Â
Sajo Ismael, who won the bronze medal in the men’s category said he would not relent in his quest to win the competition in the future and continue to give his best. He said the time has come for Nigerians to give Ethiopians and Kenyans a run for their money as far as marathon is concerned.
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