Millicent makes it three in a role

Accra, Sept 27, GNA - Millicent Boadi obliterated the ladies field at this year's Accra Milo Marathon when she completed the 42-kilometer race from The Point, Nungua, to Dansoman in 2 hours 47 minutes, 25 minutes clear of her closest rival.

It was her third consecutive victory in three years. Boadi for her effort took home a trophy, a cheque for 1,000 dollars, an economy ticket from the Royal Dutch Airline (KLM) to participate in this year's Amsterdam marathon plus two cartons of Milo, Milo T-Shirt and a Milo Sports bag.

Such was Boadi's dominance that she did not only win the ladies event but also placed 11th overall in both the men and women events. Gifty Koomson came a distant second in 3:02:28sec closely followed by Esinam Torgbadza in 3:06:42sec.

The second position earned Koomson a cash prize of 2 million cedis, a carton of Milo, Milo T-Shirt and Milo Sports bag while third place Esinam received 1,500,000 million cedis, a carton of Milo, Milo T-Shirt and a Milo Sports bag.

This year's event, which had 2000 competitors participating, started with the other ladies making frantic effort to keep pace with Boadi to end her two-year reign. But as the race progressed, it became clear after few kilometres that it would take some thing special to end her reign as she broke from the chasing pack around Burma camp.

The eventual winner then, opened the gap as she majestically strolled through the hot sweltering early Saturday morning sun, drawing applause from people who had lined up along the route.

At the finishing line, Boadi who looked very compose after running for almost three hour, told the GNA Sports that the feat was achieved through hard work and dedication.

She said even though the training took a lot out of her, she was motivated by one thing only, that's to win.

The Marathon sponsored by Milo to the tune of one billion cedis saw David Zigah, a 25 year-old photographer also win his fourth title, three of them consecutively, in the men event which earned him a trophy, a cheque for 1,000 dollars spending money, a ticket from KLM to participate in the Amsterdam, Milo T-Shirt and Milo Sports bag.

The second and third places went to Lance Corporal Victor Ashiagbor from the Ghana Armed Forces and Iddriss Adams, national 1,500 meters champion who was competing in his maiden Marathon.

For their prizes Ashiagbor took home a cash price of 2 million cedis, two cartons of Milo, Milo T-Shirt and Milo Sports bag while Adams received 1,500,000 million cedis, a cartons of Milo, Milo T-Shirt and Milo Sports bag.

In the junior event which covered 15 kilometres and restricted to children under-15 years, Gideon Yawson, 13, of the University Practice in the Central Region won the boys event and was followed by James Brown Adireh of the Awogeya Primary School in Bolgatanga and Kaba Nabarase of Awe Junior Secondary School of Navrongo all in the Upper East Region.

Thirteen year-old Patricia Essuman of the Saint Nicholas also from the Central Region won the girls division, beating Linda Tiwah of the Kwaipeluga J. S. S. of the Upper East Region and Patience Kaka of the Anfoega Catholic Hospital Primary in the Volta Region to the second and third positions.

Special prizes were also awarded to Nat Akrong, 46 and Bridget Kasusen 58 for being the old men and woman respectively to have finished the race while five year-old Cecilia Afua Dansua was the youngest female and Ibrahim Zakari and Shaibu Bentum, both six years, were also awarded for being the youngest boys to complete the event.

The marathon is organised yearly by the Dansoman Keep Fit Club and sponsored by Milo, KLM and some allied partners. 27 Sept. 2003.