By Ikeugonna Eleke
An athlete from Plateau State, Nyango Gyang, has won the highest prize money of N1 million in the maiden Anambra State Marathon competition organized by Thanos Charity Foundation.
The marathon which consisted of a 40 kilometre race which started from Onitsha to Awka, had over 1,000 athletes from all over the country.
Gyang emerged winner after completing the race two hours, 26 minutes, beating other marathoners in the 40 kilometre race.
The President of Thanos Charity Foundation, Mr Ugochukwu Ifeanyi, told journalists that the aim of the event was to identify sports talents in the state and give them platform to showcase their talents to the world.
He said the Foundation was determined to improve sporting activities in Anambra State as a way of supporting the Soludo Administration, adding that the foundation was in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Commerce and Wealth Creation, as well as the Ministry of Health, to realize its objective.
Ifeanyi said the foundation aimed to beat the records of Lagos Marathon, adding that the best talents would be handed over to the Anambra State Government to be trained and would represent the state at the National Sports Festival.
Two other marathoners, Ishmael Sadjoh and Selengwe Constant, came second and third respectively, and were presented with cash prizes of N500, 000 and N300, 000 respectively.
The winner of the competition, Gyang, who spoke to journalists, said he was happy that the competition was thrown open for all people without the restriction of only Anambra Indigenes performing. He promised to register for the next edition and even perform better.
