The Bajana
International Marathon is set to make history tomorrow when it introduces a 42
kilometer race for the first time in the Gambia in the 6th edition of the
annual coveted marathon.
The Marathon will
take place in Bajana Village, in Foni Berefet district and is expected to
attract runners from different parts of the world including Ghana, UK, Sweden,
Switzerland, Holland, France, and Germany.
The longest
distance to run in this year’s event will be 42 kilometers which will start
from the Busumbala market to Bajana. The 10 kilometers race will start at
Somita village while the 5 kilometers run will start from Besse village to
Bajana.
According to the
founder of the International Marathon Roy Sanyang, the run is an opportunity to
visit, connect and support grassroots projects to be led by Gambia Volunteers
Trust and leave a powerful impact on the local community.
He said people
come from around the world to participate in what he called one of the biggest
and most exciting international races in West Africa. “There will be other
events on the Marathon day such as tug of war, wrestling and donkey race.
Proceeds from the Marathon will be invested into Bajana village development and
refurbishment of the community’s nursery school.
The assistant
secretary general of the Bajana International Marathon Alagie Badjie said this
year’s run will be a historic one as it will be the first time in the country
that 42 kilometers race is taking place.
In 2013; two
winners of Bajana the International Marathon -Samba Bah and Alhagie Bah- were
sponsored by the initiative to run in the Sierra Leone Marathon which was
sponsored by Africell Sierra Leone and the same year, Lamin Sanneh, Hoja Secka
and Mariama T. Jallow ran the Leeds 10K, Manchester Great Run, Edinburgh and
Sheffield Marathons in the UK.
In the subsequent
year, Lamin Sanneh ran in Leeds 10k, Nonsuch 10k, and Queen Elizabeth Park Run
in the UK.