23rd April, 2012
After winning the maiden Ayodele Adewale 12km Marathon Championship, Police Constable in the Force Headquarters, Obalende, Lagos, Femi Olusanya, has said his target is the 2012 National Sports Festival holding in Lagos in November.
Olusanya returned at a time of 20mins. 15secs. to win the marathon race, which was sponsored by the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, last weekend. He also won N30,000 and a medal.
“I trained very hard to win this competition and I’m happy that my efforts were not wasted. My next target now is to prepare well and win the marathon event at the 2012 sports festival. But I will don the colours of any state that can pay for my service,” said Olusanya.
“Although my name is already with Lagos and the Force Headquarters has advised me to go for Lagos, I still want to go for the highest bidder. If Lagos doesn’t pay me well, I’m ready to offer my service to any other state,” he said.
Olusanya said he is working hard to challenge the Northern athletes who have been giving him tough opposition in marathon race. “I came second at the Gateway Games in 2006 and my last outing was not good because of these Northerners, but I’m ready for them this year,” he said.
Rasaq Azeez Agboola came second with a time of 21mins. 15secs., while Alli Labeeb came third with a time of 21mins 34secs. in the male category.
A young secondary school leaver, Pereira Oluwabukola, won the girls’ race with a time of 23mins. 56secs.
Aderonke Olumadi (24min. 24secs.) and Ogunkoya Muibat (25mins. 18secs.) came second and third respectively in the marathon race which took off at Fagbemi Filling Station along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and terminated at the secretariat of the council.