Brufut marathon champions leave for UK run

The champions of the 2012 Brufut marathon male and female competitions, Lamin Sanneh and Mariama T. Jallow, left Banjul for the United Kingdom Friday to run in Sunday’s Sheffield half marathon and the Manchester Marathon of May 26.

The duo, both of them police officers and national long distance athletes, are accompanied by coach Modou Lamin O. Keta, OPPA. They were registered in both UK runs by the Brufut marathon and its partners Friends of The Gambia Association, and supported by the Gambian community in Leeds and Brussels Airlines.

This is the second time Brufut Marathon is sending athletes to the UK, the first was last year when army athlete Hoja Secka took part in the Leeds marathon and in Bradford marathon.

Speaking at the farewell ceremony at the Banjul International Airport, Ba S. Jabbie, chairman of the BMA, said the trip of the athletes is another indication of the fulfillment of a commitment his organization made to expose talents in the Brufut marathon and further export them to the international scene.

“I thank our partners Brussels Airlines, the British High Commission, the Gambia Police Force, The Friends of the Gambia Association and the families of the athletes, who share our goal to develop sport,’’ Jabbie said.

Coach Lamin O. Keita thanked the BMA and the IGP for facilitating this historic trip.

Both athletes, Mariama and Lamin, said they were delighted to have this chance to be exposed on a bigger stage.