Hundreds of athletes Sunday, August 21, 2022, enthusiastically raced on the main streets of Monrovia in another marathon made possible by the generous sponsorship of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) and others.
Sunday’s 2022 Liberia Marathon saw the participation of an energetic team of AML racers, climaxed by a colorful awards ceremony where ArcelorMittal Liberia was recognized for its sponsorship and support of the Liberia Marathon over the years.
AML was the lead sponsor of the 2022 Liberia Marathon, after contributing US$25,000 to the organizer of the sporting event.
Marcus Wleh, Head of Government and Community Relations, attended the awards ceremony along with Rose Kingston, Head of Organizational Development at ArcelorMittal Liberia, who was given the honor to present some of the awards to high performers of the 2022 Liberia Marathon.
Speaking at the event, Wleh congratulated the athletes who signed up and participated in the race and the organizer, the Liberia Marathon Trust, for managing the event, while reaffirming AML’s commitment to future marathons.
The AML Head of Government and Community Relations thanked the participants and organizers of the marathon, noting that the company believes that sport is a great unifier and that anything that involves the talents of Liberians—ArcelorMittal Liberia is happy to support and participate.
“Our relationship with the Liberia Marathon Trust goes as far back as the first marathon in Liberia. So, we’ve been supporting the efforts of the Liberia Marathon Trust because we believe that sport is a very great unifier,” he said.
This year’s marathon comprised several categories of races, including a full marathon or 42.2 kilometers footrace, a half marathon or 21.1 kilometers footrace, and a short race of 10 kilometers. Also were the wheelchairs and crutches races.
Several members of the AML workforce participated, while Head of Organizational Development and Human Resources, Rose Kingston, presented some of the awards to the winners.
Englishman Mikey Bryant was declared winner of the full marathon, routing from SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville through SKD Boulevard, 72nd, to Gardnersville, Japan Freeway, and Sinkor to Congo Town and back to the finishing line, at SKD, finishing in nearly two hours.
The official results gave Sierra Leone’s Osman Challey, the silver medal, while Liberian Alexander Joe Autto became the first Liberian to compete in the full Marathon (42.2 km) when he snatched the bronze medal in a race that was run in humid conditions.
In the 21.1 race, another Sierra Leonean, Abubakar Conteh, won first place, proudly claiming the gold medal. Liberian Augustine Momo, silver medal, and Alpha K. Fofana, also from Sierra Leone, took bronze.
Also, in the women’s category of the 21km race, Famatta Kanneh of Sierra Leone, finished third, while her colleagues, Fanta Sesay and Jane Kargo, received Silver and Bronze Medals, respectively, in an all-Sierra Leonean affair. Promising Liberian athletic star, Saybah Morrisline Kolee, became the first Liberian female to reach the finished line in the 21.1km race.