Sports | Isiekenesi holds Maiden Marathon Race
Isiekenesi holds Maiden Marathon Race
Isiekenesi town in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State literally stood still on the 1st of January 2021, as the first ever community marathon race in Imo state held in the locality.
The marathon was organised and sponsored by Isiekenesi Worldwide Forum (IWWF), an online forum of indigenes of Isiekenesi home and diaspora. IWWF is over 5 years old and has been organising many programs like beauty pageant, female football tournament, scholarship and many more. The current national president is Onyekachi Agochukwu and the chief Matron and founder is the famous Hype Queen Chibuzor Yagazie Ikeh.
As the saying goes ‘Early to bed, early to wake’, the preparations for the epoch-making event started sometime in August, 2021 with the setting up of a well composed committee headed by the ever resilient Chimaobi Confidence Okpara as Chairman.
The committee immediately swung into action by opening of an online platform where interested persons were implored to register by filling the necessary details.
The six autonomous communities in Isiekenesi; Umuojiisi, Isieke, Dimagu, Okohia, Umuahobe, Awalla were fully represented in the marathon race registration as over 150 Isiekenesi indigenes showed interest to participate in the history making race.
The starting line of the marathon was Afor Ukwu Isiekenesi and the finish point, the same place. The routes were from Afor Ukwu (Umulekoba) to Eke Awalla, Awalla to Umufeke to Nwabosi round about back to Afor Ukwu Isiekenesi.
The marathon is a unisex race and the prices are the same for both genders.
Ist Price: 100,000
2nd Price: 50,000
3rd Price: 30,000
4th Price: 10,000
5th Price: 10,000
6th - 10th Prices: 5,000
Winners for Male Category and their Villages are:
Bethel Okpara (Ist, Okohia)
Isaac Uchendu (2nd, Awalla )
Success Ohakwe (3rd, Umuaghobe)
Virginus Okwarajesu (4th, Dimagu)
Chukwudubem Duribe (5th, Isieke)
Chidike Bude (6th, Dimagu)
Ememini Okwarajesu (7th, Umuojiisi)
Paul O Okparaugo (8th, Dimagu)
Chima ojukwu (9th, Awalla)
Samuel Duribe (10th Isieke)
Winners for female category and their villages
Edith Obiezugha (Ist, Dimagu)
Loveth Atasie (2nd, Dimagu)
Udoka Peter (3rd,Awalla)
Chioma Rita Duru (4th, Okohia)
Ijeoma Anokwuru (5th,Umuaghobe)
Uzodimma B Odinachi (6th, Umuaghobe)
Uzodimma B Odinachi (7th, Okohia)
Vivian C Okpara (8th, Dimagu)
Faith Onyema (9th, Awalla)
Nancy Chris (10th, Awalla)
Chief Pastor Beda Iheaka, the indificaticable Interim Management Committee Chairman of Ideato South Local Government Area was very instrumental in the success story of the event. Noteworthy mentions are the Federal Road Safety Corps, Isiekenesi vigilante, Awalla Medical Center were also major partners to ensure a hitch free race. All the major roads in the town were on shut down.
Out of Over 150 interested participants that registered, only 49 made it to the venue; 14 females and 35 males
The next marathon event is definitely going to be massive.
From the desk of the marathon committee chairman Chimaobi Confidence Okpara
