STORY: Thousands participate in 8th Millennium Half Marathon in Ghana
DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:53
LOCATION: Accra
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the competition
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PETER MWANIKIL, Athlete
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CATHY MORTON, Organizer of the event

STORYLINE:

Scores of international athletes joined local counterparts to compete in the 8th Millennium Half Marathon Saturday in Ghana's capital Accra.

The half marathon, which attracted both the young and the old, started at 7 a.m. local time near the country's Independence Square.

With a time of 62 minutes and 27 seconds, 26-year-old Peter Mwanikil from Kenya won the men's half marathon, while his compatriot, 27-year-old Lilian Lelei, also finished first over the same distance in the female category, with a time of one hour and 11 minutes.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PETER MWANIKIL, Athlete
"It's only because we had good training, and we are determined, and we are concentrating on good training every time. The trick is only having confidence and believing in yourself, because in running there are no tricks. Now I can say I'm happy."

Organizer Cathy Morton expressed her joy over the participation this year.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CATHY MORTON, Organizer of the event"I think this year has been very successful. We are really impressed with the numbers. I think it's showing that Ghanaians are really taking up an active, healthy lifestyle, and we are really proud of our Ghanaian runners who have also participated in the 21-kilometer race."

First held in 2015, the Millennium Marathon is Accra's premier international half marathon with an AIMS-certified course, which means the course has been measured professionally and the distance is exactly as stated in the certificate to centimeters.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Accra.
(XHTV)