Kenyans dominate Millennium Marathon but Ghanaians get Peugeot cars, cash
George Wayaiki and Peninah Kigen and maintained Kenya’s reputation as a hotbed for long distance running as they swept the top prizes at this year’s Millennium Marathon last Saturday, but it was Ghanaians who drove away two new Peugeot salon cars as runners-up in the men’s and women’s races.
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The two Kenyans dominated the race involving over 7,000 local and foreign runners, including para-athletes, as they battled for the mouth-watering prizes or participated in the 5km event for families, corporate bodies, keep fit clubs and runners who just wanted to engage in exercise for the fun of it
Wayaiki, 25, crossed the finish line in a time of 1:05:24 hours while Peninah completed the 21km race in 1:18:42 hours to the delight spectators at the Independence Square in Accra .
However, there was a lot of cheers for Ghana’s Sakat Lariba and Malik Yakubu when they crossed the finish line as first runners-up in their respective races to guarantee for themselves two new Peugeot cars together with GH¢25,000 each.
For 24-year-old Wayaiki, who lost to Ethiopian Terefa Debele in last year’s competition, the experienced he gathered from the maiden event enabled him run a tactical race last Saturday as he paced himself well along the 21-kilometre stretch before breaking away in the last three kilometres.
Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye presenting Sakat Lariba with dummy keys to her Peugeot car as first runner-up of the women’s race.
Former Ghana marathon queen, Millicent Boadi, and 2011 Milo Marathon champion, Arkuka Williams, who finished second and third in the female and male divisions in the maiden event, failed to improve upon last year’s performance as they placed fifth and eighth respectively.
In a post-event interview, 25-year old Peninah, who has participated and won many international competitions, told the Graphic Sports she did not struggle to win her division because she had prepared several months ahead of last Saturday’s competition.
“I am very happy to win this competition today because I prepared for almost three months. It was not a difficult race for me because I have been doing this all my life,” the Kenyan said.
Colombia’s Andres Camilo Camargo finished in fourth position in the men’s event to take home a cash prize of GH¢10,000 and a medal.
Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, CEO of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), presenting keys to the Peugeot car to Ghanaian Malik Yakubu (left)
The event, which had Mexican athletics legend Ana Guevara present as a special guest, started at 6 a.m. from the Independence Square through to the John Evans Atta Mills High Street, WATO Road, Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Liberation Road, National Theatre, Independence Avenue, 37 Military Hospital Road, El Wak Stadium, Burma Camp, Trade Fair Road and back to the Independence Square.
An equally interesting race for the day was the
This edition was sponsored by National Investment Bank, H20 Still Water, Peugeots Wats Limited, Total Ghana, Graphic, Puma, Africa World Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Papaye Fast Foods, Interplast, Ayton Drugs, British Airways and Melcom.