In a remarkable display of endurance and talent, 14-year-old Elizabeth Olumide clinched victory in the female category of the 4th Annual Owan Marathon Race held on Saturday in Sabongida-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. The young athlete completed the 10km race in an impressive one hour and 24 minutes, outpacing Ruth Abu and Precious Orogun, who finished in second and third places with times of one hour 27 minutes and one hour 37 minutes, respectively.
The male category was dominated by 16-year-old Embah Godspower from Delta State, who crossed the finish line in exactly one hour. Close behind were Paul Osadebame and Aliu Mirror, recording times of one hour two seconds and one hour 57 seconds, respectively.
The event, sponsored by U.S.-based philanthropist Christopher Ojo, has become a platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talent. Speaking after her victory, Olumide, who participated in the race for the first time, expressed hopes of securing a scholarship to study nursing abroad. Meanwhile, male winner Godspower attributed his success to rigorous training and shared his ambition to represent Nigeria in national and international competitions.
Athletics coach Oluyemi Ayopo lauded Ojo for his dedication to uplifting young athletes, noting that the marathon has produced talents who have represented Edo State at national events. Ayopo highlighted that past editions of the race have led to significant opportunities for participants, including scholarships and entry into major competitions such as the Access Marathon in Lagos.
One notable success story is an athlete from the second edition who is now on a scholarship in the United States.
Lucky Ehigiator, Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Athletes Technical Officials, urged the race organizers to register the event internationally to gain global recognition. He also praised Ojo for raising the standard of the competition in its fourth edition.
Ojo, the event's sponsor, reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing the athletes discovered through the marathon, promising to expose winners to competitive platforms for further development. "I envision these young stars competing on national and international stages, including the Olympics," he said optimistically.
The marathon continues to be a beacon of hope, inspiring young talents to pursue their dreams in athletics and beyond.
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