Sports
ELIZABETH Olumide, a 14 year-old girl from Edo on Saturday won the female race of the 4th annual 10km Owan marathon race with a time of 1.24 hours.
Ruth Abu and Precious Orogun, also 14, from Edo and Delta, who ran 1.27 hours and 1.37 hours respectively, came second and third place in the race, which took place in Edo.
Olumide, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the race, said she was a first time runner and hoped to secure a scholarship in athletics to study nursing abroad.
Similarly, a 16 year-old boy, Embah Godspower from Delta, emerged the winner of the male category race with a time of 1 hour.
Godspower was closely trailed by Paul Osadebame and Aliu Mirror, with the running times of 1.0:02 hours and 1.0:57 hours to place second and third place respectively.
He said he was not surprised with the feat, adding that he had trained hard for the race.
Godspower also said his ambition was to represent Delta and Nigeria in both national and international engagements.
Meanwhile, an athletics coach, Oluyemi Ayopo, commended the vision of Christopher Ojo, the organiser of the race, who provided an avenue for the teenagers to showcase their talents.
Ayopo said that the annual marathon race had produced athletes, who had represented Edo at national events.
“Through the event, about 20 athletes discovered in previous editions were sponsored to the annual Access Marathon race in Lagos.
“Also, an athlete discovered during the second edition of this event is presently on scholarship in America.
“We need more of Ojo to help nurture our abundant talents hidden in our various communities,” he said.
Mr Lucky Ehigiator, the Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Athlete Technical Officials, advised the organiser to register the annual race in order to ensure it becomes an international event.
He commended the organiser for raising the bar in the fourth edition of the annual race.
“The organiser, Christopher Ojo has promised to ensure that the winners in this year’s edition are exposed to competitive races as part of their grooming process,” he said. (NAN
5th January, 2025.
C.E.
Tags: Elizabeth Olumide
