Kenyan humbles over 6000 Ghanaians to win Accra Milo Marathon

Alex Kimeli of Kenya managed to beat over 6000 Ghanaians on Friday to emerge as the champion of the 26th edition of the Accra Milo Marathon. He took home GHs 10,000 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD as his prize.

The 27 year old made a time of 2 hours 25 minutes 42 seconds in 42.2km race which started from 'The Point' in Nungua barrier through the principal streets of Accra to the finishing point at the Alhaji Sly Teteh Park in Dansoman.

Yandel Joseph of Ghana Police Service and Seth Nuamah Boadi of University of Education Winneba were awarded GHs 7.000 and GHs 5,000 for placing second and third respectively.

In the female division, Elizabeth Bortsor of Ghana Police Service won the first position with a price of GHs 10,000 and products of Nestle Ghana LTD. Gifty Abbey of Ghana Prisons Service had GHs 7,000 after placing second, while Josephine Kwakye of Ghana Police Service went home with a price of GHs 5,000 for taking the third position.

In under 15 category, which covered 5kms from New Times Cooperation to the same finishing point in Dansoman saw Mustapha Alhassan from the Ashanti Region being awarded a cash prize of GHs 1,200 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD for the first place while Seyram Sebgefia from the Volta Region and Philip Apuri from Upper East Region placed second and third and respectively received GHs 800 and GHs 500 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD.

Sakat Lariba from the Upper East Region couldn't hide her joy for winning the girls division with a price of GHS1, 200 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD. Jessica Amevor from Volta Region work hard to occupy the second position with a price of GHs800 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD. Sandra Sapei of Upper East managed to win GHs500 and products from Nestle Ghana LTD for placing third.

According to the organizers, Voltic Ghana Limited will supply all the under listed winners mineral water for a year.

In an interview with Asempa Sports, Madam Marilyn Agyeiwaa Ofori, Assistant Brand Manageress of Beverages in Nestle Ghana LTD, the organizers, said although they encounter some challenges, they were very impressed with every aspect of the event and promised to improve on it in next year's edition.

She added that they are planning to make provisions for all the winners to compete in other marathon competition around the world in order to showcase to the rest of the world what athletes who pass through the Accra Milo Marathon are made of.

She noted that the under 15 category would be organized at the regional level, next year, to select about 20 runners from reach region before the grand finale in Accra for them to identify many talented runners from the grassroots to compete.

This year's edition recorded much controversy due to the intention of the many runners trying to cheat to their favor but the organizers did so well to prevent them.