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Nigerian athletes upbeat ahead Warri/Efurun ‘peace’ marathon

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
26 February 2018   |   3:18 am
As athletes from Nigeria and East Africa prepare for the third edition of the Warri/Efurun Marathon organised to promote peace in the region and by extension Nigeria, Adewale Gabriel, who placed seventh at the last Access Bank/Lagos Marathon, has vowed to win the competition.


As athletes from Nigeria and East Africa prepare for the third edition of the Warri/Efurun Marathon organised to promote peace in the region and by extension Nigeria, Adewale Gabriel, who placed seventh at the last Access Bank/Lagos Marathon, has vowed to win the competition.
  
Conceived by Mrs. Joyce Bozimo, a lawyer and sports enthusiast, the 10 Km road race fixed for Saturday, March 3, would start at the Airport Road and end at the Warri Township Stadium.Gabriel would compete alongside four other marathoners who were discovered during the 2017 edition of the Owan Marathon Race, in Edo.
  
Speaking with journalists in Benin City yesterday, Gabriel said he has used the Lagos event, which was his first major competitive race after the Owan event, to prepare himself for the task ahead.He said he and four other products of the Owan race had been in camp for two weeks after the Lagos race.
   
“I am better equipped and prepared for more races following my performance in the Lagos race. I really want to send a positive message to the world with a solid performance in the Warri Peace Race,” he said.
  
Meanwhile, Gabriel’s promoter, who is also the sponsor of Owan Marathon, Christopher Ojo said while the athletes were being prepared for the March 3, Warri 10km race, they were also being for the 2018 edition of the annual 10km Okpekpe road race in Edo, in May.Ojo said the athletes were barely three months in marathon races, but have shown remarkable progress within the time frame.
 
“I am greatly impressed and encouraged with their performance thus far… it goes to show that with more of the proper mentoring and training they have been receiving, they will go places.“Since their discovery, I had no doubt about their ability, which was the reason, why I had to engage the services of a former marathoner in the state as their coach.“We have just started and they are very young, our plan is to also enroll them in races beyond the shore of this country,” he said.

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