By Akpan David, Calabar
Marathoners will smile home with N5 million this weekend when the 3rd edition of Calabar Marathon ends on Saturday in Calabar.
More than 1000 participants from different parts of Nigeria have already been medically screened in readiness for the kick off Friday.
Managing Director of Cross River State Bureau of Tourism, Ekpenyong Ojoi disclosed this at a press conference in his office.
He said that the top prize of N1million each will go to both male and female who will come first.
Second and third prize winners will each receive N500,000 and N300,000 each while others will bag consolidation prizes.
He stated that the marathon is fashioned along the Lagos version, now 10 years old.
Ojoi explained that the 12km marathon will hold along the calabar carnival routes, and participants will make the race twice within six hours.
He said the essence of the marathon holding is to attract youths, dissuade them from crimes and pull visitors into the city.
“This 3rd edition is opened to Nigerians from age 15 to 65. They’ll be expected to run the 12km twice through the carnival route. Participants have been screened and large numbers of participants are expected. We’ve earmarked N5m for the challenge.
“The challenge is also a way to empower the youth.”
Special adviser to the governor on General duties, Ekpenyong Akiba assured each year they want to make it bigger and better.
He added that the Calabar marathon cannot replace the famous Obudu mountain race.
Commissioner for Youths, Ijom Ukam the marathon race will help the development of youths mentally and physically.
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