Ogbomoso Marathon 2025: Emmanuel Agboola students sweep medals in 5km race, Oke-Ogun athletes dominate 10km (PHOTOS)

Ogbomoso Marathon 2025: Emmanuel Agboola students sweep medals in 5km race, Oke-Ogun athletes dominate 10km (PHOTOS)

Yinka ADETUNJI

The five winners out of six produced by Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School in the 5km race

The Ogbomoso Marathon Race 2025, the fourth edition held Saturday (December 20) left five students of Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, garnering five medals out of six available in the 5km race. Students of the school, Ayobami Enoch, Adebayo Taiwo and Makinde Joshua took first, second and third position respectively beating over 100 other athletes s in the male category while in the female category, Popoola Julianah Praise and Adeniyi Victoria of the school, came first and third respectively, as Oyekale Imole came second.

Reacting, Mr. David Adetoye, teacher in charge of sports in the school, who accompanied the students to the marathon, described the laudable feat as a result of hardwork and painstaking preparation, noting the school, under the administration of Mr. Femi Ogunlana, got the services of an experienced trainer to groom the students for weeks.

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“The outcome is not surprising, though we didn’t expect it will be so easy. Our principal Mr. Ogunlana asked us to prepare the students for the competition and so brought in a trainer, Coach Hezekiah Akinkunmi, and often times, he (Ogunlana) joined us on the field,” Mr. Adetoye said. “The students trained twice a week except during exams and CAs even after vacation we trained till last week Wednesday, giving the students a break to rest two days prior the event though we encouraged them to do light training at home, so, the students were exposed to vigorous preparation.

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“We identified some talents and interestingly, our students’ positions followed the pattern established in the school, 27 students passed the screening but only 22 of them showed up on the day of the competition. Impressively, our female students also took fourth to tenth position likewise the male. We are happy, it reflected the efforts we put in, I want to commend the principal too, he continues to emphasize that he desires to have children from Ogbomoso attain global stardom in sports and that we must discover the talented ones and help in their development, and make them believe they can do it. We commend the organisers of the event, we urge others to organize such events.”

Adetoye (right) and Coach Akin (left) with the Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School victors

In the 10km race, athletes from Oke-Ogun zone were dominant as they took the first three positions in the male category. Olayinka Peter (indigene of Saki) took first position in a time of 28.52 minutes, Quyem Ayotunde (also from Saki) finished the race in 28.54 minutes to come second, while Kareem Ramon (indigene of Okeho) ended it in 29.43 minutes to take third position.

Olayinka Peter (first position) in 10km

Quyem Ayorunde (second)

Kareem Ramon (third)

10km winners (female) – 1st position (third left), 2nd (third right) and third (middle) at the podium with officials

In the female category, Oyekale Onaara also from Oke-Ogun (31.42 minutes), Oguntunde Ruth (35.15 minutes) and Okesola Fowomola (38.35 minutes) came first, second and third respectively.

The trekking race involving the elderly produced Olatunde Olawale, Oladipupo Olafimihan and Akintola Olalere as first, second and third respectively in the male category while Arikuyeri Olubunmi, Ogunlola Lydia and Sangoniyi Emily led in that order in the female category.

The trekkers getting set for takeoff

A 100 meter exhibition race involving students of four schools produced Anglican Grammar School winning in both male and female categories.

In his speech the convener and chairman of the marathon race Prince Aderemi Oyebamiji stressed the event was organized to provide a platform for the young ones to excel in sports and also provide opportunity for the senior citizens to improve their health, promising to make the next edition bigger and better, and added, “It is also to promote physical fitness, unity and community development, the race showcases the rich culture and vibrant streets of Ogbomoso. Beyond sports the marathon also boosts tourism and highlights Ogbomoso as a centre of endurance, discipline and excellence.”

The convener, Prince Remi Oyebamiji (right), Otunba Bayo Babatunde (second left)

‘It’s fun to participate in the trekking’ – Participant

Mrs. Olapeju Mary Wande, an Ogbomoso woman based in Lagos enthusiastically told ogbomosoinsightonline.com that she came home to be part of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival urging people to live healthily by participating in fitness programmes like that.

Mrs. Wande

A member of the Bobakeye group, she said, “I live in Lagos but I came home for the carnival, and this morning, we are here to exercise our body by participating in the marathon walk race, to join the elderly people, the senior citizens and the youths to burn fat. I don’t need to win, that is why I am happy something like this is happening in Ogbomoso. I purposely came for Cradles Carnival. But I am spending Christmas too, Oba Ghandi has made it easy for us to enjoy Ogbomoso during Christmas. But purposely we are here because of Cradle Carnival. “

Mrs. Wande advised senior citizens to always take advantage of such programmes to enhance their health and fitness. “My colleague senior citizens, it is good to exercise your body, it is good to burn your fat not just sitting at home and be eating like a glutton, burn that fat and keep fit, keeping fit is not about slimming, it is about being healthy. When you exercise you will be healthy. I am not here because of the prize it is about happiness and for the fun of it, just to catch fun.”

Similarly, Engr. Olalekan Olaniyan, also Lagos-based who traveled back home to be part of the marathon through moral and financial support, informed Ogbomoso Insight, “I came from Lagos to witness this programme. Mr. Sola (Kolawole who is co-chairman planning committee, logistics) is my good friend. When he told me about the event I said I am going to participate and that I also want to support the programme, in mobilizing funds and also getting people to support this externally which I did, that way I contributed my own quota. That is why I supplied the water.”

Engr. Olaniyan (right) with Hon Sola Kolawole (co-chairman logistics)

Engr. Olaniyan charged well-meaning individuals to support initiatives that build people and the town and help develop young ones with talents. “I want to encourage philanthropists to continue doing good. The Bible says don’t be weary in doing good, those who have not started they should start to support programmes as this. This is our own place, we can develop talents, we can help them to grow, some of them have the skills. I saw the young lady that came first in the marathon I was impressed.”

MORE SCENES FROM THE COMPETITION