Defending male champion, Mustapha Elmuzay Kamara, won the 2017 Street Child 42.2 kilometre Marathon with a spectacular finish in front of dozens of excited spectators who lined the streets to cheer the marathoners on Sunday morning in Makeni.
The Road King, Kamara, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 21 seconds to defend his title. New kid on the block, Foday Bangalie Koroma clocked in at 2 hours and 47 minutes while Augustine Shieku Momoh returned a time of 2 hours and 52 minutes in third position.
Koroma ran last year’s marathon in 2 hours and 22 minutes – faster than this year’s time. Koroma looked to be intensifying pressure on the Road King in the final stages, but Kamara found enough speed to finish toughly and ultimately win by 14 minutes.
Shortly after he finished, Kamara said, “In the beginning, the race was very fast. But as we ran along we separated into two groups and I was with the first group. Everyone was watching me closely; they knew I am the man to beat. But I pulled away from the group at about 21 kilometres to the finishing point. It was from that point I won the marathon”.
“Defending my title was great, but I ran without any pressure in a very slow pace because none of the other competitors matched my pace even when I run slowly. I didn’t run my best time because my major contender, Osman Charlie choses to run in the half Marathon for reason best known to him,” Kamara admitted.
Aminata O. Kargbo won the women’s race in 3 hours and 3 minutes. In second position was Jane Kargbo who clocked 3 hours 15 minutes and Salamatu Tarawalie clocked 3 hours and 30 minutes in third position.
Female champion, Aminata O. Kargbo said the outcome of the marathon was amazing. She expressed her delight for winning this year’s event in a grand style.
“At the start of the race it was tough as everyone wants to be in front. But I tried to maintain my pace for half of the race and pulled out of the crowd brilliantly. From there, I maintain my position till the finishing point,” Kargbo said.
When asked about what was given to them as prizes, both athletes confirmed that they didn’t run for prize money, but to help raise funds for Street Child and Ebola affected children.
“We enjoyed running to raise funds for our brothers and sisters who are going through numerous constraints in the street. So we accept whatever is given to us by the organization as token,” they both said.
By Magdalene S Konneh
Tuesday May 30, 2017.