Ethiopia shows class in Millennium Marathon

Ghana proved to be good hosts of the inaugural Millennium Marathon but visiting Ethiopians showed their class as they won both the male and female events held in Accra last Saturday.

The Ghanaians managed to finish in third and positions in races the male and female races respectively, allowing the visitors to claim the winners’ prizes as well as the third position.

Competing in the 21km race which featured runners from Kenya, Colombia, USA and Togo, Tereta Debela and Ayele Gedamu Gebeyawesh proved why their country is famed for winning long distance events by easily shrugging off the challenge from the over 13,000 marathoners to drive away the new peugeot cars given out as champions’ prizes in both divisions.

  Perhaps, inspired by their compatriot and long distance legend, Haile Gebrselassie, who together with President John Dramani Mahama, started off the race at the Black Star Square, the Ethiopians were never under threat right from the start of the race. Initially, they paced themselves strategically, but by the time they got to the J.E. Atta Mills High Street, the deal was almost done, particularly for Gebeyawesh, whose real challenge was from former Ghana marathon queen, Millicent Boadi.

For Debela, he intentionally paced himself behind his Ghanaian challenger William Arkuka, who had led the race, until he eventually outpaced him to claim the first prize ahead of Kenyan George Waiyaki Njoroge and Arkuka.

Boadi and Colombia’s Martha Rosaria finished second and third respectively in their division.

For their prizes, the Kenyan received $3,500, while Arkuka had $1,500 for finishing third. The females received similar prizes.

What was to be an equally interesting 5km race was almost marred by miscommunication as over 3,000 adults and 400 children missed the original route.

Though they were supposed to branch off at the Castle Road traffic light, the runners, who also took off from the Black Star Square, were misled by the motor riders who led them. They had to go all the way to the La General Hospital before being asked to return to the original route.

The Ambassadors and CEO 5km race was also an interesting one with the Mayor of Accra, Oko Vanderpuije, the MD of Airtel, Ms Lucy Quist, the Mayor of Addis Ababa, Hon Diriba Kuma, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ambassador Victor Gbeho and Ambassador Ashim Morton, the CEO of Millennium Marathon Sports, as well as Mr Ken Ashigbey, the Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group, all starting and finishing the race.