Two siblings, Iliya, Deborah Pam emerge winners of 10th Ibadan City Marathon

Two indigenes of Plateau State, Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam who are of the same parents on Sunday emerged winners of the 10th edition of the Splash FM Ibadan City Marathon.
Iliya, a second-time winner of the race, who is a 300 level student of Physical and Health Education at Federal College of Education, Pankshin, and a member of Plateau State Sports Council, won the male category after finishing the 42 kilometres Marathon race within two hours, 36minutes.

His younger sister, Deborah a third-time winner of the same race and an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), won the female category of the marathon sponsored by West Midland Communications, owners of Ibadan based radio stations, Splash FM and Lagelu FM, after finishing in two hours, 51 minutes.
DAILY POST learn that apart from Iliya and Deborah, four others, runner up and second runner up in the two categories of the competition were all from Plateau state.
The first three winners in the male category went home with cash prizes of N1million, N700,000 and N250,000 respectively, while those in the female category got N700,000, N400,000 and N250,000 respectively.
Kefas Williams and Yohanna Friday emerged runner-up and second runner-up respectively in the male category, while Nuhu Elizabeth and Hudung Gyang emerged runner-up and second runner-up respectively in the male category.

Iliya who recently won the 2018 Access Marathon race in Lagos, while speaking with journalists thanked God for emerging victorious in the tournament.
He said, “It is unfortunate that I ended the race in 2 hours, 36 minutes as against the 2 hours, 27 minutes of the Access race in Lagos. I had trained very well to participate in the Commonwealth but could not make it.”
“I am determined to compete in international long distance races against Kenyans and others,’’ he said.
Deborah who won the race in 2013 and 2015, said she was happy to win the race for the third time.

Deborah said “I could not attend the last edition due to injury. I never thought I would win this, but I thank God it happened. I have participated in several international competitions.
“I participated in a 50 km race in Doha in 2015; I also participated in a race in China and Cross-Country in Uganda. I also won the last Lagos City Marathon race.”