Runathon champ calls for more support

Two-time Runathon 50-kilometre ultra-marathon champion, Raja Lagble, has urged the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) to place more emphasis on the development of Ghanaian marathon runners.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic after seeing off challenges from Kwesi Savi and Godwin Adukpo to retain his 50km ultra-marathon title last Saturday, Lagble stated that Ghanaian long distance runners did not get a lot of support from the GAA which usually made it difficult for them to excel in international competitions.

The Ghana Navy officer said, “It is very difficult to be a long distance athlete in Ghana, especially if you don’t have a good management team. There is too much emphasis on the short distances, 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres and 4x100 metres.”

“I am pleading with the GAA to support long distance athletes so we can participate in the Olympics and other international events so we can win laurels for Ghana”, Lagble urged.

Meanwhile, the President of the Runathon Ghana Foundation (RGF), Mr Eric Adae has disclosed that his outfit will be organising more marathon events across the country in 2015.

“Next year, there will be a Runathon race in Kumasi .  That race will be preceded by the national cross-country, there will also be Runathon events in Takoradi and Accra. RGF urges sponsors to heed our call so we can offer competitors attractive prizes at all these events”, he said.