Cross River, Plateau Athletes Emerge Winners At Abeokuta 10KM Race

 

ABEOKUTA - Cross River's Sadjo Ismael and Plateau State's Rose Akusho were winners of the second Abeokuta 10km race respectively.

Ismael who emerged champion in the men category raced to the finish line at 31:03:81sec to clinch the $2000USD grand prize, while Rose Akusho from Plateau state reached the finish line at 36:33:30sec to win the $2000USD for the female champion category.

Ismael, a national champion at the 2020 Kaduna race beats other 2500 runners at the 10km race in Abeokuta.

The duo of Stephen Parop and Emmanuel Gyang emerged first and second runner up respectively while Vera Yohana and Patience Dalyop emerged first and second runner up in female category.

The Abeokuta 10km race organized by Nilayo Sport Management Limited saw other four  teenage athletes winning a combined N500,000 and free business class ticket to Kenya courtesy of Kenya Airways.

Speaking at the event, the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun commended the management of Nilayo Sports Limited for bringing the state to the limelight through organizing of international races in the state.

Governor Abiodun who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi said the state would continue to support anything that will project  the image of the state.

He described the race as a unifying factor for all various ethnic groups in the state.

"We are happy to be here, it gives me great pleasure. Ogun is becoming the first to have many number of international races in Nigeria, and that is due to God's grace and Nilayo sports management for many more races that had bring us to limelight.

"The younger ones will take the centre stage soon. We have more than they have in SA and our athletes are more in other places of the sports.

"Anything that will project the image of the state, Dapo Abiodun administration will support. The sports keep us fit, sports improve our culture and improve the economy of the state, and a unifying factor for all our various indigenes in the state. I'm impressed with what have seen today."

The CEO Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Hon. Bukola Olopade commended all the athletes for coming out en-mass to participate in the race.

He said Nilayo Sports Management has tested the template for the 10km race for the local athletes, saying the sports management would fashion a way to arrange another race that will accommodate both the local and International athletes.