John Abeig emerges winner of Wau Marathon

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s John Abeig has emerged the winner of the first-ever regional Great South Sudan Run tournament dubbed ‘Wau Marathon’.

Abeig came first out of approximately 500 athletes who participated in the 10 kilometres-long competition.

In a post-match interview, the athlete described the event as ‘unique’ and hailed the organizers for taking the tournament to Wau.

“It was one of the unique events, especially for me as an athlete, I hope my fellow athletes, too, feel the same,” Abeig said after getting crowned.

“Most importantly my win is not for me but for fellow athletes as well as the country’s youth who are hoping for better and peaceful South Sudan,” he added.

Abeig likened the tournament to factors that forge unity and bring about peaceful co-existence among South Sudanese.

“I am happy, and in a special way, I would like to thank the organizers for their decision to bring this year’s Great South Sudan Run to Wau, I hope they keep on such beautiful events. I believe it’s one of the only ways toward unity in the country,” the champion stated.

The athlete urged the government, private sector, and well-wishers to consider organizing similar events as a way of promoting talent as well as unity among youth in the country.

Some athletes who made it to the top ten of the competition include; Santos Gaman (WBGS), Touch Guot and Deng Muing (NBGS), James Sunday (Lakes State), Pasifico Arkanglo (WBGS), Mowien Garang from NBGS, John Mayen (unattached), Joseph Manol, and Adam Jaffar (NBGS).

The participants were drawn from the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region and Unity State, including two Administrative Areas of Abeyi and Ruweng.