Runathon To Be Used As Qualifying Event: Defending Runathon Champion, Raja Lagble

The Runathon Ghana Foundation has disclosed that the 2014 ultra-marathon race which comes off in Accra on November 29 will be used as a selection exercise for the Bamako International Marathon, Benin International Half-Marathon and the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC).

The president of the foundation, Eric Adae, told the Graphic Sports that his outfit was determined to provide Ghanaian middle and long distance runners with more opportunities to compete with international athletes.

He said: “We want to add more long distance races to the Ghanaian athletics calendar so that our athletes don't lose interest in the sport.

“We will select two runners from Runathon 2014 to represent Ghana at the 2015 Bamako Marathon sponsored by the Bank of Africa in January, the foundation will use the ultra-marathon as the selection criteria for the Benin Marathon which takes place next April”, he added

He explained that the ultra-marathon race offered wheelchair athletes the opportunity to sharpen their skills so they could participate in the OCC Marathon on February 21 in South Africa where Ghana will be represented by four athletes.

Adae, a former national long distance runner, said the absence of the Milo Marathon this year was a blessing in disguise because a lot of marathons could not match the prizes Milo offered leading to fewer marathon competitions being organised.

“It was unfortunate that the Milo Marathon was not organised but athletes have been given hope with competitions like the Accra International Marathon and the Homowo Marathon coming to the fore.

“More organisers are now on the scene, groups were put off organizing marathons because the prizes Milo offered made race organization expensive because other organizers always try to match them putting a huge burden on their sponsors” Mr Adae stressed.

He also revealed that over 1000 athletes had so far registered for Runathon 2014 which starts at 6.00am on November 29 at the Accra Stadium.