Sixty-three-year old finishes 32km Tito Makurdi Marathon as other athletes clear prizes

Male and female athletes from Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa States, won the majority of the prizes for the second edition of 32Km Tito Makurdi Marathon race held yesterday in Makurdi, Benue state capital

In the male category, Adamu Shehu Muazu from Kaduna State won the 2nd edition of the 32 km by finishing the race in 1 hr 26 mins to win the cash prize of N100,000 and a pack of Tito Yoghurt.

Coming as first and second runner ups are; Raymond Simon and Daudu John, both from Kaduna state which they finished 1:30mins and 1:34mins respectively to win cash prizes of N50,000 and N30,000 respectively with a pack of Tito Yoghurt each.

In the female category, Elizabeth Nuhu of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abuja emerged the winner by finishing the race in 1 hr 46 mins to win N75,000 cash prize and a pack of Tito Yoghurt.

Jamila Aminu and Lovine Audu both from Nasarawa State won the second and third prizes by finishing the race 1:54 and 1: 59 mins to win N50,000 and N30,000 and a pack of Tito Yoghurt each.

In second category term, ‘local’ Ameh Emmanuel came first by finishing the race 1hr 56mins while Folara Emmanuel and
Wazanga emerged first and second runner ups by finishing 2:12mins and 2:16mins to win the cash prize of N30,000, N15,000 and N5,000 respectively.

Shimemge Agba won female local category while Doshima Awuhe and Jato Loveh emerged second and third respectively with similar cash prize for male counterparts.

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A 63years old man, John Igbokwe who participated in the marathon and finished the race 2: 32mins was honored with a consolation prize.

The sponsor of the marathon race, Asiwaju Isaac Akinkumi, said that the aim of organizing the sporting activity was to give the competitive minds for youths to compete where they could win laurels and make positive name for themselves.

Akinkumi passionately appealed to Benue state government to take a keen interest in sports development and encourage youth participation to keep them out of streets.

He said, “I remember in the 70s Benue name resonates around sports and known for several sporting activities, am looking forward to those old good days where Benue would reclaim it’s lost glory.”

He explained that over 290 from 10 states participated in this year second edition of the 32Km Tito Makurdi Marathon Race and assured that Tito would continue to sponsor the event every year in order to encourage sports in Benue state and Nigeria as a whole, stating that plan is on the way to institute Tito under-15 football tournament for the younger age.

Also speaking, the Benue State Director of Sports, Philip Nongo who was represented by the head of coaching and training, Jonathan Wombo commended the management of Tito Group of Companies for consistently putting the event together for Benue and Nigeria athletics saying it would encourage the participants to compete for other major marathon race.