Christmas ‘carrots’ await marathoners in Aba

This will be a Christmas to remember for marathoners in Nigeria, as the organisers of the Aba Marathon has increased the prize money of the competition, which usually forms part of the festivities in the commercial city during the Yuletide.

The brainchild of Eziuche Ubani, a journalist turned legislator, the Aba Marathon has grown to become a top meet in the calendar of marathoners in Nigeria, athletic buffs and fans.

Slated for December 20, the winner of the national and international edition will smile home with $5,000, second $4,500, third $4000, fourth $3,500, fifth $3,000, sixth $2,000, seventh $1,750, eighth $1,500, ninth $1,250 and tenth $1,000

For Aba residents participating in the 2015 edition, the winner will smile home with ₦200,000, second ₦160,000, third ₦150,000, fourth ₦140,000, fifth ₦130,000, sixth ₦100,000, seventh ₦90,000, eighth ₦80,000, ninth ₦60,000 and tenth ₦40,000.

The manager of the Aba Marathon, Adebayo Oluseye, revealed that the 2015 edition will retain all the features that make Aba Marathon the nation’s number one long distance event and incorporate other new features that will make this edition one memorable to the athletics family and sports lovers in general for a long time.

Adebayo said Ubani is not only concerned with the commercial and tourism value that the marathon is adding to Aba and Abia State in general, but also, the health benefits,

“Ubani understands the health benefits of exercise and keeping fit, so the essence of this marathon is to build a culture of daily exercise in our people. We have made tremendous progress, but there is still a lot more to do,” Adebayo said.