A team of professional marathoners from Kenya, Ivory Coast and the Republic of Benin joined their Ghanaian counterparts in Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana over the weekend to take part in the 2024 edition of the annual Osimpam Marathon.
This year’s edition was planned as a half-marathon which covered a road running distance of 21.0975 kilometers (13 miles 192.5 yards) through the Winneba and Effutu township for almost 400 registered athletes both males and females.
For the male category, Ezra Kiplangat from Kenya, in a stunning display of athleticism and determination, emerged winner finishing with the time of 1:11:43.
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Ghana’s Atia Koogo, a 25- year old former student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), emerged 2nd with the finishing time of 1:12:54.
The 3rd position was won by Awine Samuel also from Ghana finishing with the time of 1:16:05.
For the female category, Ayade Collete from Benin emerged 1st with the finishing time of 1:27:51, Sonon Rufine also from Benin finishing 2nd with the finishing time of 1:32:27, and Esther Yakubu from Ghana finishing 3rd with the finishing time of 1:35:34.
“My team and I remain committed to encouraging and promoting athletics and we say congratulations to all the athletes who took part in the Osimpam Marathon this year to make it a success. It is getting bigger and better and we can assure all partners that the 2025 edition would be bigger than this. The prospects are bright and promising.
“It is also a practical way of encouraging people to adopt running and jogging as a habitual exercise. Running has a lot of cardiovascular, physical and mental health benefits and even if we cannot run as professional athletes, we certainly can do so to improve our health”, Mr. Abraham Fiifi Appiah-Num, Chief Executive of Osimpam Media (FM and TV) noted.
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The cash prize money on the 2024 Osimpam Marathon was an amount of GHC6,000 for the 1st position, GHC5,000 for the 2nd position, GHC4,000 for the third position and an amount of GHC500 for the 4th to 10th positions.
At the end of the events, the athletes were presented with their participatory certificates and medals
The event was graced by Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Omanhen of the Effutu Traditional Council with his delegation of sub chiefs, the Effutu Divisional Police Commander- Jeff Darko, the Effutu District Police Commander – ACP Adjei, Mr. Kwesi Botwe Aboagye Jnr (Sports Director – Effutu Municipal Assembly), Lawyer Ebenezer Narh Ogyartey among others.
