Kunle Adelabu & Gabriel Eweje (Photographer)
The 7th edition of the Oba Kabir Shotobi Independence Day Mini – Marathon, an annual 10 kilometer race initiated/sponsored by the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has come and gone but the memories of the beautiful outing still linger.
THE IMPACT’s lenses was able to captured the movements of Master Ayinde Luqman (706), the 15 – year-old SSS 2 student of Ikorodu Grammar Senior School, Ikorodu, who emerged winner of the male category with 44 minutes and 43 seconds, from the start of the race at the Ayangbure palace to the finish line at the Police Barracks Playing Ground, Ikorodu.
From the palace, Ayinde was among those that picked quickly but did that cleverly by separating himself from the crowd of other runners.
From the Ojogbe junction through Owolowo, Ayinde was among the leading athletes and maintained his lead all through.
He was in clear lead while other athletes were doing everything to catch – up with him.
Ayinde maintained the lead through Ireshe road and was in his own world from Sheriff junction to the point he crossed the finish line at the Police Barracks Paying Ground.
Rather than getting tired, Ayinde gathered more strength from the Sheriff junction and increase his pace to finish the race in grand style.
The young champion, who before the race was only involved in active football where he gathers his strength, energy and fitness, told our reporter in an interview after the race, that he might take to long distance racing following his first successful outing.
“This is my first time of participating in the annual Independence Day mini – marathon and I feel very great winning, though it was tough.
“I was not actually involved in long distance running, but my stamina, energy and strength are obtained from my active football engagements. I have never been a runner, but with my experience now, I think that I am going to take to the long distance running. It seems that I have what it takes to do it”, he said.
