Winners of Maiden Calabar Marathon
Gwon James Gyang from Plateau State and Chariity Agorfure of Delta state have emerged champions of the maiden 15km Calabar Marathon race on Saturday.
In the male category Gang won with a time of 39 minutes 8 seconds while Agorfure merged champion in the female category.
Over 500 athletic enthusiasts from all over Nigeria participated at the maiden edition Calabar Marathon for Sweet Prince with the theme,,”Abstinence from Drugs”…With Plateau, Delta and Ondo carting away star prizes for male, female categories
Speaking shortly after the flagging off of the race which started at the Eleven Eleven Roundabout, through the Carnival Calabar Route and terminated at the Marina Resort, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu,, said the initiative was a deliberate efforts to take the youths away from drugs at the same time create a platform for sports enthusiasts to harness their God given potential and be useful to themselves and the society.
Otu who was represented by his Special Advisor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba raised the hope that the race will at the end, produce world beaters who will represent the state and Nigeria at the local and global arenas.
“Don’t forget that Calabar is the cradle of modern civilization and that football started here. What we are doing today is to reenact our first position that was recorded in several events to regain our pride of place.
“As you are aware. If the youths are not gainfully engaged, they will channel those energies to drugs and other vices inimical to their growth” , he said.
The governor stated that over the years, there has been serious hike in drug related crimes amongst the youths and “we find this marathon as the best channel to carry out this sensitization campaign against drugs and other vices.
“Don’t forget it’s our first edition and we are already receiving huge support from several stakeholders in both sports and hospitality industries and are confident that the next year’s event will witnessed humongous participation and supports”.
Managing Director, Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, who described the event as a good tourism offering to the state said, “We are here to remind the world that sports started in Calabar and we are ready to world sports lovers all over the world.
“Youths all over the world are looking for opportunities to expel those energies in them and we are putting this together to trap those energies that are often channeled on drugs to a more useful and gainful venture that will be beneficial to them and the society”.
On the security of athletes and other other tourists to the state, the Commissioner of Police Cross River State Command, Mr. Gyogon Augustine Grimah, assured all visitors for fun and business that the state remains a safe place as his men are always on alert to arrest the slightest breach of peace.
The CP advised the youths in the state to get actively involved in the various development initiatives put in place by the state government in ensuring that no useful hand and mind is made idle and sun all forms of crimes.
