History in the making as Bajana int’l marathon introduces 42km race

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.