Plateau sweeps MTN Ibadan Marathon

DANJUMA Gyang, led a Plateau state 1-2-3-4-5 top 10 male sweep in Sunday’s first MTN Ibadan Half Marathon and toped it with a 1 & 2 women’s finish to spake off a domineering monopoly in the emerging Nigerian “Marathon circuit,” nigeriasports.com reports Gyang, 23 and now only into the Senior Secondary School class 3 in the largely educationally disadvantaged Northern state, coasted home in a time of 1:12:57secs. He was closely followed to the finish at the Liberty stadium mail bowl by Wilson Eku, who incidentally won the Kaduna Marathon last August ahead Gyang in a time of 1:15:20secs. “We have discovered in Plateau state that it is very difficult to compete against the Southerners in the sprints, so we have also now decided to dominate in the marathon and other long distance races,” Gyang told nigeriasports.com in Ibadan. Plateau state also produced the winner in the first Regional race held in the old Eastern Nigerian capital, Enugu in July. Issa Fwatshak, who won in Enugu told nigeriasports.com it was his first marathon race, as he had remained an 800m runner before then. “This is my first marathon race. I competed last in May, (during the 14th National Sports Festival in Abuja) and it was in the 800m,” Fwatshak told nigeriasports.com Also in the top five men’s finishing are: Richard Anthony, Gyayong Emmanuel and Tony Audu. The women race was won by Ladi Musa, 1:20:00secs, with compatriot Janet Dung, 1:29:08secs coming second. Musa also won in Kaduna and now focuses her gaze on the Port Harcourt event coming up later in October. The top five women finishers include: Mercy Edwards, Edo state, Kafayat Babalola(Lagos)and Abiodun Olarenwaju, (Lagos). The top 8 male and the top two finishers in each of the four Regional Marathons will be given full sponsorship details to appear at the 3rd MTN Lagos International Half Marathon coming up next November 20. By Jo Benson
You won't be able to add comments, unless you are logged in
Not Registered yet ? Click here to Register.