Athletes from Plateau State put on a dominant performance at the sixth edition of the Governor Douye Diri Marathon on Saturday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. James Gang and Lydia Akusho emerged as overall winners in the men’s and women’s categories, continuing Plateau’s stronghold on the competition.
Gang clinched the men’s title with a time of 30:58 seconds, outpacing 206 competitors from a total of 503 registered athletes. He was followed closely by fellow Plateau runner Francis James, who finished second in 32:05.87 seconds, while Ismael Sadjo of Cross River State secured third place in 32:14.31 seconds.
In the women’s race, Plateau’s dominance was equally pronounced. Akusho crossed the finish line in 38:30.37 seconds to claim the ₦1 million grand prize. Vivian Obadiah of Plateau took second place in 38:52.78 seconds, earning ₦500,000, and Tanko Iyanj completed the podium in 38:54.84 seconds, receiving ₦300,000.
The marathon, popularly called the “SDD Marathon,” also showcased emerging talent in the teen categories. In the male teen division, Andrew Richard of Bishop Dimeari Grammar School (BDGS) emerged victorious, with Okenema Samuel of Community Secondary School, Okutukutu, and Chinedu Deindein of BDGS finishing second and third. In the female teen category, Igbeita Innocent of Divine International School took first place, followed by Alex Sunshine and Yebiboh Favour.
Speaking at the event, Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, praised the marathon’s convener, Igbeita Odonkumo, for sustaining the initiative. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to using sports as a tool for youth engagement and development.
Governor Diri encouraged chairmen of the state’s eight local government areas to organize grassroots marathons starting in 2027. The top performers from these events will be forwarded to the Ministry of Sports Development for consideration in future editions of the SDD Marathon.
The governor also announced that Bayelsa would host an international marathon in April, reinforcing the state’s ambition to become a multi-sports destination. He revealed that the prize money for winners would double from ₦1 million to ₦2 million in the next edition, highlighting sports as an increasingly viable economic venture.