Kwadwo Akaba wins Adabie Sarpong marathon

Nsuta (Ash), Aug 25, GNA- Kwadwo Akaba, a second year student of Osei Tutu Secondary School at Akropong near Kumasi on Saturday won the Adabie Sarpong Foundation Marathon Race at Nsuta near Mampong in the Sekyere West District of the Ashanti Region.

He ran the 18 kilometres race in a time of one hour, 25 minutes, beating 49 other competitors.

Kennedy Gamey of Nsutaman Secondary School placed second and was followed at the third place by Oppong Gyasi of Mampong Catholic Junior Secondary School.

In the girls division, Charity Boamah of Saint Monica's Secondary School clocked one hour, 18 minutes to clinch the first spot and was followed in second position by Rosemond Davidson of Mampong Catholic JSS while Mercy Boahene of the same school placed third.

For their prizes, Akaba and Charity received 200,000 cedis each, while Gamey and Rosemond had 150,000 cedis each and Gyasi and Mercy received 100,000 cedis each.

The rest of the contestants were given consolation prizes and certificates of participation.

Speaking at the function, Mr Manu Sarpong who instituted the race in honour of his wife, described Adabie Sarpong as a virtuous woman at her time and called for greater participation in the race in order to propagate virtuousness in women.

Mr Isaac Richard Aboagye, a retired judge and chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission who chaired the function, urged the youth to strike a balance between their aspirations to excel in sports and education so that the latter would not suffer.

Nana Adu Adjei Bonsafo, Nsutahene, was the guest of honour at the competition.