The Local Athletics Association in Eastern Equatoria State on Monday gave medals to the five best-performing athletes in the Otuho Marathon locally called Allam in Torit.
On Saturday, thousands of youths from different Otuho villages competed in the 12-kilometer traditional marathon that is held annually in Torit. The marathon aims to bring Otuho youth together and build peace and unity.
Amar Ismail Julla, the secretary general of the Eastern Equatoria State Local Athletics Association, declared Johnson Akio the best runner in the 2024 edition of the Allam marathon.
“The five best runners include Johnson Akio Clement, the best runner, Samson Atari, second-best runner, Dominic Ohure, the third best runner, Francis Oturo, the fourth best runner and Amanya John the fifth-best runner for Otuho Allam,” he declared.
Akio Johnson, the best runner in the Allam, expressed happiness at being the best but said it was not his first to win the marathon
“This is not my first time to participate in Allam. I started in 2014 and I won the 2017 Allam and the rest of the years I was always second or third,” he explained. “However, this year, I have been training a lot and alone and committed myself till I won it from those of Kasuk and Atari because they used to always be ahead of me. The children from other villages should turn up to compete in the Allam.”
“We would also like to inform the sports minister that we need a lot of training and support with sports shoes and uniforms,” Akio added.
For his part, Samson Atari, the second-best runner, said he trained hard and vowed to perform better in next year’s marathon.
He urged youth to practice and participate in the Allam marathon.
“The competition was fine and we ran for peace for Eastern Equatoria and South Sudan as a whole. We just need motivation and not fighting. I am so excited,” he stated. “We do not have shoes and a coach who can train us daily. However, I appeal to the youth in Torit as a whole to come for practice because practice makes perfect.”
Meanwhile, Torit Mayor Mustafa Albino Zachariah applauded the Hima and Domoro Youth for organizing the 2024 Allam Marathon and pledged to support and improve athletics in the town.
“My appreciation goes to the Youth of Hima and Domboro for annually organizing the Allam. It was a very nice occasion because it brought people from different villages together. I congratulate the winner,” he said. “I am sorry for those who did not make it due to health issues.”
“Eastern Equatoria will continue to support and stand with you (athletes) where need be,” Mayor Albino added.
According to Pirimo Oduna, the deputy chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Local Athletics Association, the five best-performing runners of the 2024 Otuho Allam Marathon will be registered to compete at events at both the state and national level.
He revealed plans to organize the General Peace Marathon for Youth across the state ahead of the National Marathon.
“The runners were many, in thousands, but only a few of them managed to complete the marathon,” he said. “We are going to organize so that the five best runners participate in other upcoming events in Torit or Juba so that they can compete in the whole of South Sudan.”