Northern Bahr el-Ghazal were crown champions of the Eastern Equatoria State’s 4th National Cross-Country Athletics Championship in Torit on Saturday.
Eastern Equatorial State (EES) were ranked second and Western Bahr el-Ghazal third in the championships in which John Abiec and Cecilia Ajieth from Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal were declared the best 10km runners.
The championship was organized by the South Sudan Athletics Federation, with support from IMAGINE International, under the theme; Run for peace and stability.
Other states that participated were Central Equatoria, Lakes, Western Bahr el-Ghazal and Jonglei.
The best runners in the 8km race for both women and men were from Eastern Equatoria State.
Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports Margaret Idwa Okuye applauded the national athletics federation for organizing the event, saying it portrayed nationalism.
She urged South Sudanese to invest in sports and commit to ensuring children across the country freely engaged in sport as a means to building peace and unity.
The President of the South Sudan National Athletics Federation, Majok Ayii, said promoting sports is a collective responsibility.
He revealed that the 4th National Cross Country Championship in Torit was the first activity recognized by the World Athletics federation.
“The people of Torit are very lucky to have this event because our previous cross country was not recognized by the world federation. Sports is a collective responsibility and we have to work together to develop it in South Sudan in general and in Eastern Equatoria, especially in Torit,” he explained.
The 10km female champion Ajith expressed joy for the win and vowed to train harder for additional ones.
She applauded IMAGINE for supporting athletics in South Sudan, and urged other humanitarian organizations to follow suit.
Otimore Kasuk from Torit urged young women and girls to join athletics, saying it brings people together.
He said he would continue to train hard to represent South Sudan in future international athletics.
Aduk Lala from Central Equatoria said she was excited competing with colleagues from across the country.
She urged her fellow athletes to train hard to compete within and outside the country.
