The second edition of the Kafuta Marathon in the Kombo East District of the West Coast Region was held last Saturday, attracting scores of the country’s finest long distance runners.
Organised by the Kankilling Development Association, the event is designed to promote sports in the village and the country at large. This year’s distances for competition were: 10km for senior male category; 5km for senior female category; 2.5km and 1.5km for both junior male and female categories respectively.
Gambian long distance runner, Demba Marong of The Gambia Police Force, emerged winner in the senior male category, while Sona Saho of the same institution, secured victory in the senior female category.
Other winners include Sainey Saidy in the male children’s category, and Rita Mendy in the female children’s race.
Speaking to Observer Sports, Demba Marong, winner of the senior male category, expressed delight for the victory. He indicated that running with his fellow athletes is motivation for him. He said he resorted to hard training after emerging runner-up in last year’s event.
Marong also thanked his department for the encouragement, which, according to him, continues to inspire them in any event they participate in.
Sona Saho of The Gambia Police Force, winner in the senior female category, while expressing delight at the outcome, thanked God for giving her good health. She disclosed that she has been participating in marathon runs for the past three years, but t was her first time to participate in the Kafuta Marathon.
Saho thanked the organisers for their move in promoting sports development in the village.
Nfamara Colley, the Kafuta Village Development Committee Chairman, also thanked the organisers for the move.
He called on the youth of the village to be proactive and be dedicated to promoting sports in the village.
Ebrima Jassey, a member of the organising committee, expressed delight at the turnout and thanked all those who participated in the event.
He said it is their aim to make the event bigger and better next year and thus called on companies and institutions to partner with them in promoting athletics at the grassroots level.
Jassey expressed optimism that the event would promote sports in the village by inspiring aspiring long distance runners to discover their hidden talents.
by Sheriff Janko
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