…Win both male and female categories
-By Saidu Abubakar
Kenyan marathon runners led by John Muiruri Mburu have swept all male and female category events in the recently concluded maiden Kaduna Half Marathon race held on Saturday, 21st November, 2020. John Muiruri Mburu won the males’ category of 21kms in a time of 1:04:0 to cart away with the first prize of $10,000. While the second prize of $7,000 and a third of $5,000 also went to two Kenyan runners – Phillip Taurus with a time of 1:05:20. Josphat Chobe won the bronze in a time of 1:05:20.
Valuechain reports that in the women’s category, Caren Maiyo returned a time of 1:12:43 to emerge champion, ahead of second place Cheptoeck Caren Mwetich (1:15:26) and Lilian Chemweno, who came third in 1:15 :32. All the three winners had participated in various international marathon races. The races were held in 21kms, 10kms and 5kms categories respectively.
John Mburu, while fielding questions from journalists said experience matters most in any marathon race.
Gyang Emmanuel was the first Nigerian to cross the line in the men’s half marathon, ahead of Jigak Auta and Piyango Gyang.
The first three Nigerian female runners at the event were Vera Yohanna, Hudu Gyang and Nancy Matthew.
The top three Nigerian athletes in the men and women’s events shared N13m.
Meanwhile, foreign athletes at the event commended the race organisers – Nilayo Sports Management and the Kaduna State Government.
The athletes expressed delight over the organisers hospitality and promised to return to the country next year for the second edition just as the Kaduna state government hailed runners, sponsors and citizens on a successful event.
Meanwhile, sponsors of the event, Kaduna State Government have expressed gratitude to both the co-sponsors, citizens, runners, media and government agencies for the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the historic Marathon.
Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Kaduna Governor (Media & Communication), stated that the first edition of the Kaduna Marathon has advanced the stated goals of promoting sports, encouraging social interaction and showcasing the best of Kaduna.
“The state government salutes Kaduna residents for the warm welcome they have given to our guests. Government acknowledges residents for kindly bearing the inconveniences caused by the road closures for some hours.
“The elite runners from several African countries brought high standards of long-distance running while Nigerian citizens, residents and visitors alike, participated with enthusiasm.”
While congratulating the winners, Adekeye said: “The Kaduna Marathon is designed as an annual sporting event, creating options for talent development, drawing mass participation, inviting visitors to the state and creating economic benefits. A major objective is to promote social interaction and advance unity in the state. KDSG welcomes the recognition by world athletics, of Kaduna Marathon as a fixture on the international sporting calendar. The Kaduna Marathon represents a further initiative in reviving sports in Kaduna State. In 2019, Malam Nasir El-Rufai anchored this responsibility in a new Ministry of Sports Development. The government will continue to support sports and work to stage many more sports programmes in the near future.”
Valuechain gathered that the World Athletics governing body has given a nod to the Kaduna Marathon as an event on its sporting calendar. This was disclosed, in Kaduna at the unveiling of elite runners and sponsors for the maiden edition of the marathon.
The state Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, was presented with certificates confirming Kaduna’s status by officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria led by its President, Olamide George.
The technical director of the race, Yusuf Alli, revealed that any records set at the Kaduna Marathon would be accepted as valid by the world athletics body and would also enter into the history books.
Alli, a Nigerian Olympian, further disclosed that the route of the Kaduna Marathon was marked by one of the leading experts in the field, adding that the global standing of the race is such that it can be accepted as an Olympic qualifier.
He assured that the Kaduna Marathon would abide by the international standards and would be run in a loop similar to that of this year’s London marathon.
The state was delighted to welcome sponsors, elite runners, athletics officials, journalists and other participants to Kaduna for the maiden edition of the marathon.
Acting Governor, Hadiza Balarabe had earlier told runners that the Kaduna Marathon provides another platform to bring people to Kaduna and to bring the people of Kaduna together in a common endeavour. Your decision to run in the Kaduna Marathon has made the event possible.
“When you start the race you will be creating a new history as the first runners in the first official marathon event in this part of the country,” she stated.
She thanked sponsors and residents for their support and appealed to the people of the metropolis to bear with the government over the inconveniences that resulted in temporary road closures, promising that the government would ensure that the second edition in 2021 is less cumbersome.
About 7,000 marathon runners registered to participate in this maiden edition of the Kaduna Marathon, Valuechain gathered.