18 year old wins first ever Runathon

Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - Raja Lagble, an 18-year-old Ho Polytechnique student

emerged winner of the first ever Runathon race, with a time of 3hr.22.52 seconds.

He was followed by Akakiya Atampure with 3.26.12, while Kwasi Sakvi

followed with a time of 3.55.32 in a race that attracted hundreds of

runners across the country.

The 50km Runathon ultra-marathon event, which was held last Saturday,

through some principal streets of Accra, started and ended at the

Independence Square, with the aim of promoting the need for peace in

the country ahead of the general elections

. In the ladies event, Gifty Abbey reigned supreme with Regina Anoeni

and Saviour Boadiwaa following in that order.

The first three winners of the male and female categories took home

trophies, certificates and cash prize of ¢5,000,¢3,000 and ¢2,000 each.

In the disable category, Alfred Adjetey Sowah in a time of 2.03.07

raced past Botsyo Nkegbe 2.03.07 to emerge winner in the para cycling

event, while Maclean Atsu finished as the second runner up after

recording 2.18.10.

Eric Adae, founder of Runathon Ghana Foundation, described the

successful hosting of the race as a dream come true adding that they

will roll out plans to sustain the event in the future.

He said, plans are in place to organize six events in 2013 as part of

his efforts to restore the sport’s dwindling fortunes.

According to the founder, the decision to make the event cover a

distance of 50km was to promote endurance and give sponsors the needed

mileage as well as to keep partnership with sponsors.

Bawa Fuseini, General Secretary of the General of the Ghana Athletics

Association (GAA) said his outfit has made the necessary arrangements to make the

event part of the International Association of Athletics

Federation (IAAF).

The GAA scribe pointed out that his Association is through with

documentation to adopt the race on the national calendar and advised the organizers,

to make it an annual event.