The State Governor Prince Bassey Otu, Weekend, flagged off the maiden edition of Agbokim Falls’ Green Marathon Race in Ikom Local Government Area.
The race, designed into three segments, accommodated professionals who embarked on a 42km race while the locals engaged in 21 and children in 10-kilometre races, respectively.
Speaking at the event, the Governor said the idea of decentralising activities of government is to ensure that the citizenry continuously feels the pulse of governance wherever they are situated.
Otu who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu, remarked that when youths are engaged in sporting activities, they would be devoid of all kinds of criminality, hence the need to develop talents among the teeming youths while showcasing them to becoming global stars.
“Our idea is that people should not remain in Calabar and feel government, so we try to take government down to the rural communities.
“We are hoping to see another marathon in the Northern Senatorial District, having held one already in Calabar, the Southern Senatorial District. All these are geared towards ensuring that the entire Cross Riverians witness what is known as marathon,” the Governor remarked.
He disclosed that the event next year would take a different shape as the level of sponsorship would improve with more athletes registering and participating, even as the event would be turned into an international event.
For those who participated at the event, Otu encouraged the participants to keep practising and remain resilient in sporting activities, if they must win laurels.
“Nobody has lost, no one is losing. As long as you have started and you are completing the race, you have not lost. For those who came earlier than the rest, I encourage you to do better because this is just a small one. For those who felt that they didn’t come first, resilience is what matters and I urge you to keep practising to win the race next time,” the governor advised.
At the race proper, 35-year-old Plateau-born Nenfort Matthias Gofwen won the 42km race from Ikom-Ajasor-Agbokim and carted home N2 million, while Shehu Muazu Adamu and Nyango Gyang, both from Plateau emerged second and third positions, clinching N1 million and N750,000 respectively.
In the female category for the 42km race, Blessing Solomon Shambor, who hails from Boki, emerged first, also carting home N2 million, while Delta-born Agofure Charity, who got her training in Plateau, came second, going home with a prize of N1 million and Elizabeth Nuhu from Plateau emerged third, carting home N750,000.
For the 21km race (males category), Effiong Orok, Emeka John and Charles Umoh emerged first, second and third positions, respectively, while Godsmind Nelson, Perpetual Happiness Ofoke and Patience Eteobong came first, second and third, respectively, in the 21km females category.
Others who emerged victorious for the 10km categories were Alexandar Saviour, Emmanuel Emmanuel and Agbor Abednego, arriving first, second and third,d, respectively.
For the females 10km category, Angel Nelson came first, while Sophia Etim and Immaculata Odu emerged second and third, respectively.
Earlier, the Technical Director of Cross River Sports Commission, Nelson Eteng, maintained that the marathon race remains a dream that Cross Riverians have been looking up to over the years, affirming that, “The citizens are glad as the reality has finally come.”
Frank Ulom, Converseer News
