By SundiataPOST, Abuja
Plateau athletes on Saturday in Port Harcourt emerged the male and female champions at the maiden one-day national half marathon race organised by Power Pasta.
Gideon Goyet finished the race in 1hr, 10 mins, 0.85 secs, while Deborah Padu finished in 1hr, 23 mins, 22.20 secs, to win the men and women’s events, respectively.
Emmanuel Gyang and Shehu Muazu, also from Plateau, emerged the second and third best finishers in the male category.
In the female category, Elizabeth Nugu from Nasarawa and Pereia Bukola from Lagos emerged second and third, respectively.
Mr Barisi Wifa, the Publicity Secretary, Rivers Sports Council, presented cheques of N1 million each, to winners of the male and female events.
The runners-up in the male and female categories received N500,000 each, while third-place finishers in the male and female categories received N200,000 each.
Wifa added that those who finished in the fourth position to the 20th position in the two categories, would smile home with consolation prizes of N10,000 to N20,000 each.
Earlier, the Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Mr Fred Igwe, while flagging off the race, thanked Power Pasta for making Port Harcourt the host city.
Igwe noted that Port Harcourt was becoming a popular destination for all kinds of sports events.
Also speaking, the representative of Power Pasta, Mr Checker Karan, wished the participants luck as they pursued their careers in the future.
Karan, who was also the coordinator of the race, described the marathon as a conduit through which talents would be discovered for international events.
Gyang, who emerged second in the male category, dedicated his success to his parents.
He said his determination to take Nigeria to places would be manifested at the upcoming Obudu mountain race.
