Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, at the Weekend flagged off the maiden edition of Agbokim Falls Green marathon race at Ikom local government area of the state to keep young men and women in the local government area physically fit.
The marathon was designed into three segments that made professionals compete in a 42km race whereas the community locals contested their category where they made to cover 21 Kilometers, with children covering a distance 10 kilometres in that category.
Governor Otu said the marathon is one of the ways to decentralize government activities to ensure that the community locals feel the pulse of governance irrespective of where they are.
The governor, who was represented by the state commissioner for sports development, Agnes Atsu, stated the marathon is one of the avenues of creating opportunities for young people to showcase their talents where they can subsequently become global stars in future time.
“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 CrossRiverians witness what is known as marathon,” Otu maintained.
Otu encouraged the participants to be resilient, keep practising in the sporting activities, so that they win laurels in the subsequent edition billed for next year.
At the end of the competition, 35 years old Plateau born Nenfort Matthias Gofwen, won the 42km race which spans from Ikom-Ajasor-Agbokim to coast home with 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 42 km race, Blessing Solomon Shambor an indigene of Boki local government area coast home with N2 million, while Delta born Agofure Charity who got her training in Plateau came second coasting home with N1 million and Elizabeth Nuhu from Plateau coasted home with N750,000 in the third position.
For the 21 km 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 Tok first, second and third respectively in the 21km females category.
Alexandar Saviour, Emmanuel Emmanuel and Agbor Abednego emerged victorious in 10kms category, arriving first, second and third respectively.
For the females 10km category, Angel Nelson came first while Sophia Etim and Immaculata Odu emerged second and third respectively.
The state Technical Director, Sports Commission, Nelson Eteng stated that the marathon race remains a dream which residents of the state had been looking up to over the years, urging young people to put in more effort so that they can win laurels in subsequent editions.
