An indigene of Taraba State, Hamadjam Yahaya, and a Police Inspector, Atuoma Chidinma, from Abia State, have emerged winners in both male and female categories respectively in the 5th edition of Opobo Marathon in Rivers State.
And for their efforts, they went home with the sum of N250,000 each, while the second and third positions in both male and female categories were awarded N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
In the male category, home boy Clinton Toby came second, with Mariya Ahmed trailing behind, while home girl, Victory Toby, came second in the female race with Princess Aniete coming third.
In an interview, both Yahaya and Atuoma expressed satisfaction with their performances, saying it was reward for months of practice and endurance.
They both disclosed that they were visiting Opobo for the first time and that the marathon has given them the opportunity to know the ancient kingdom.
Yahaya particularly commended the organisers for a great initiative and called for more of such marathons across the country to groom more talents.
Speaking at the finishing point, the Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, who also took part in the leisure category, praised the organisers for a job well done.
He stated that apart from exposing the Kingdom to the world, the marathon will further entrench the time-honoured hospitality of the people, its rich culture and human resource across diverse fields of human endeavour.
While congratulating the winners, the revered monarch stressed that participation alone is a thing of honour as marathons across the world are a crowd puller.
King Jaja expressed optimism that home-grown talents would be produced in the nearest future, just as he called on companies, banks, philanthropists and other private sector players to support the Opobo Marathon.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Bright Ogolo; Team Lead, Iyowuna Cookey, and Patron, Sody Peterside, all expressed satisfaction with the quality of athletes, competition and increasing interests amongst Opobo people and Rivers State at large.
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