11-Year-Old Steals Show At Ijebu Heritage Half-Marathon

By Daily sports on July 18, 2021

Eleven-year-old Abigael Ogunbowale on Saturday stole the show at the maiden edition of Ijebu Heritage Half-Marathon as she braved the odds to finish the 21km race at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the young runner, a registered runner for the half-marathon, completed the race to prove doubters wrong about her resilience.

The young Ogunbowale was however instantly rewarded with N250,000 cash by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rite Foods, Saleem Adegbuwa, who was one of the race’s co-sponsors.

Adegbuwa praised the courage of , adding that she was a beauty to behold as the curtain closed on the race adding that the next edition would be better.

“The courage of the young lad is a beauty to behold, and seeing such a girl competing with established stars in spite of her age was something. We are looking forward to seeing her getting better.

“As a son of the soil and being involved, I will say it is our thing and is really important that we bring events of this nature home.

“I mean world-class events like this.

“By DNA in Nigeria, we are good at sports, we just need to harness it so we can go international with it. I was not surprised today to see a 55-year-old and 11-year-old finishing the race,” he said.

Adegbuwa also noted that Nigeria was naturally blessed with talents and they would continue to get more backing from his company.

“We were naturally gifted and we just need to make sure the talents here are well-coordinated.

“We intend to do more in sports, with the Abeokuta Marathon also coming up later in the year, and we are looking forward to more like that,” he said.

NAN reports that Femi Olusanya, a police officer from Ijebu-Ode, came first among the indigenous runners who finished the race.

Kenya’s Hosea Kiplimo won the half-marathon with the time of 1 hour 02 minutes 36 seconds and got the cash prize of 10,000 dollars.

His compatriot, Rhonzas Kilimo, came second with the time of 1:02:57 for the Prize money of 7,000 dollars.

Timothy Ronoh, also from Kenya, won the third-place prize with 1:02:59, with Keneth Kiprop in fourth, while John Muriuri came fifth.

In the Female category, Kenya’s Sandra Chebet returned the time of 1:10:42 to emerge winner, while Ethiopians Gebaynesh Ayele and Beyenu Degefa were second and third in 1:10:52 and 1:11:02 respectively. (NAN)

•PHOTO:  11-year-old Abigael Ogunbowale at the maiden Ijebu Heritage Half-Marathon at Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode. PHOTO: NAN.

 

Source Daily sports

Posted July 18, 2021


 

You may also like...
Rangers out of Federations Cup

Ronaldo vs Ighalo: Who will emerge Saudi goals...

Enyimba, Insurance in top-of-table clash as NPFL resumes...

Injury forces Naomi Osaka out of Australian Open,...

Anthony Martial Learning Well From Ighalo At Man...

Eaglets on rampage, whip Australia 6-0 to zoom...

 

Latest News Osimhen sets Turkish transfer record, €70m above second Parker eyes Joshua rematch after Dubois bout Adesanya sends cryptic message to Boniface Oyome secures third consecutive IBB Ladies Open title African champion Opeyori sets sights on more titles Fasuba, Ogunkoya warn against over-reliance on NCAA athletes Nwaneri breaks Saka’s EPL record Seven potential additions to strengthen Eagles for W’Cup qualifiers Okocha remains Nigeria’s greatest player – actor Gavor Joshua backed to win another world title Foundation opens sports academy in Ogun UPDATED: Kenya, Ethiopia athletes win 2025 Lagos city marathon

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,302 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,448 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,478 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,117 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,078 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,065 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,877 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,432 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,521 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,176 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,618 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,043 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media