No be small thing o! For di 6th Senator Douye Diri National Marathon wey happen for Yenagoa, Plateau State runners don scatter ground as dem take over di male and female categories.
One strong guy, James Gang, wey finish second last year, don show say e dey ready as e take run 30:58:75 secs to collect gold. E dey hot behind am be Francis James wey also come from Plateau, e follow am finish for 32:05:87 secs. Ishmael Sadjo from Cross River no fit shine too bright, but e come third with 32:14:31 secs.
For di elite female category, na still Plateau ladies dey shine like diamond! Akusho Lydia-Thomas dey chop first with 38:30:37 secs, while Vivian Obadiah and Tanko Iyanj follow am as second and third respectively. Na wetin dem dey put for dem head wey dey make dem dey run like wind?
As for di teens category, Andrew Richards from Bishop Dimieri Grammar School no allow anybody catch am as e run fast, come first. Okenema Samuel come second while Chinedu Deindein also represent for third place.
For di female teens, na Igbeita Innocent wey steal di show, while Alex Sunshine and Yebiboh Favour follow am like shadow. Wetin we go do? Na to jubilate for dem talent wey dey come up.
Governor Douye Diri, no wan let dem collect all di glory, he come chop prize presentation matter join body. E announce say from next year, cash prize dey go increase sharp-sharp! Na for 2027, winners for di elite category go collect N2m. E don even plan to bring international marathon come Bayelsa for April.
Di governor, sabi say plenty talent dey for corner wey no sabi how to shine, come encourage local governments to start dem own marathon too. Di man sabi wetin he dey talk because e get vision to make sports for Bayelsa dey grow like money tree.
Dr. Daniel Igali, di Sports Commissioner, no carry last as e praise di organizers. He talk say dem dey do better for improving talent among di middle distance runners. E also remind everybody say dem don increase di distance for di marathon by one kilometer. Chai! Wetin dem go do next year, 42km?
Odonkumo Igbeita, di brain behind di SDD Marathon, come shout thank you to di governor and everybody wey help make di event possible. E dey think big as he say di marathon na way to create wealth and showcase talent. E too mention say di online registration make dem get international participants, but dem no fit come because di money no dey sweet dem enough.
Highpoint of di show na when dem dey share dummy cheque to winners and runners-up. Both James and Akusho carry one million naira each go home, while dem runners-up chop ₦500,000 and ₦300,000 for di third place. Dem even give 50 school bags to di students wey participate na courtesy of Glory Diri Foundation.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
