Athletes from Plateau State yesterday dominated the Warri/Effurun Peace Marathon, which was concluded at the Warri Township Stadium.

The 10km race was flagged off by Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, former minister for Police Affairs, at the old Airport Road in Effurun. And it did not take long before Adamu Shehu and Deborah Pam proved to be contenders for the top prizes.

In the male category, Shehu finished effortlessly to win the N300, 000 at stake. He was chased down by Emmanuel Gwon Gyan and Gideon Goyet for second and third places respectively. In the female race, Deborah Pam and Faustina Ogah slugged it out. Ogah, who is also a walk race athlete led till about a kilometre to go, before she was overawed by Pam. Elizabeth Nuhu came in third.

“It was an interesting race. It was my first time of participating and I am happy winning it,” said Pam who also won the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon local athletes in February.

Speaking on the race, former Delta State director of sports and coach, Seigha Porbeni commended the athletes for a job well done, adding that in the next edition the national elite athletes will go 21km. In the special sports race, Murtala Isah representing Warri came first in the male category, Ogelege Sefiu and Akanni   Jelli from Lagos finished second and third respectively. The female version was won by Lagos athletes, Itiru Okoro, Abimbola Balogun and Adefola Nofisat.