2020 Police Games: Pam, marathon winner, targets world best
2020 Police Games: Pam, marathon winner, targets world best
Marathon
By Francis Onyeukwu
Awka, March 7, 2020 (NAN) Police Constable (PC), Iliya Pam, overall winner of 21 kilometers half marathon in the 2020 Police Games, says his future ambition is to do better than the current world best marathon runner.
Pam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after he was decorated with a gold medal in Awka on Saturday that his dream was to engage in more competitions in the long distance race.
“I am glad I was able to emerge first in this marathon, but I dream very high that in future, I will be named one of the best marathon runners even beating someone like Eliud Kipchoge,” he said.
The race at the 12th biennial Nigeria Police Games began from the Government House, Awka on Enugu-Onitsha expressway to Amawbia Flyover, stretching to Eke Awka Market and terminating at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square Akwa.
Pam, barely two years old in the force and serving at Force Headquarters, Abuja, said all he needed to realise his dream was more training and exposure to competitions.
He said he was thankful to the Nigeria Police and the Anambra Government for the provision of conducive environment during the seven day games.
“We have had a good time during the seven days period we have been in Awka for this competition.
“The organisers did there best in terms of feeding and accommodation and that really brought out the best in the athletes who took part in the competition,” he said.
NAN reports that the second position was won by Sgt. Kefas Williams from Zone 4, while Philip Sharubutu won the third position.
PC Helen Mammam, serving at Force Headquarters, Abuja, was the first woman to finish the race.
Among the civilians who took part in the race, Clinton Amara was the first to complete the marathon.
Other civilians who received consolation prizes included 15-year-old Miracle Onwe and his 18-year-old brother Emmanuel.
The duo alongside their 18-year-old cousin, Michael Eze, received N50, 000 consolation prize each.
Amara got N300, 000 as the best civilian that finished the marathon with those at the second position and third getting N200, 000 and N100, 000 respectively.
NAN reports that the 21 kilometers marathon is the first long distance race to be organised in Anambra since the state was carved out of old Anambra in 1991. (NAN)
FEO/FF/EMO
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Ejike Obeta