The ANVIKULTUR association organized the first edition of the Boromo Half-Marathon competition on Friday March 8, 2024 in Boromo under the theme ‘Sport, factor of social cohesion for a resilient people’. The competition brought together around a hundred professional and amateur competitors.
The town of Boromo now has a professional athletics competition called the Boromo Half Marathon.
The competition is an initiative of the ANVIKULTUR association in partnership with the Boromo Town Hall.
The first edition of the Boromo Half Marathon brought together around a hundred participants from Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Boussé, Houndé, Koudougou, Léo, Dédougou, and the Balé province.
Several athletes completed the 21 km distance. They started on the banks of the Petit Balé dam at the west exit. Then they traveled approximately 9 km to reach the town of Boromo, before completing a closed circuit four (4) times three (3) km inside the town.
This is the first marathon in the city’s history. To this end, thousands
of spectators gathered throughout the journey to the finish line to admire the spectacle and encourage the runners. The distance was difficult for the amateurs because of the pace dictated by the athletes at the head of the group. Some had to abandon after half the distance of 21 km.
Professional athletes who started in the lead from km zero competed to the finish line in downtown Boromo on National Highway One.
Nion Roger arrived first at the finish line. He covered the 21 km in 1 hour 12 minutes 44 seconds. He is followed respectively by Simporé Inoussa and Dabiré Jean Francois, ahead of one second. The podium is made up of athletes from Ouagadougou.
The first of the women is Saboué Marie Aude, athlete from Dédougou, 8th in the general classification, she completed the distance in 1h27midnights 09 seconds. She held on to the men until the last km before the finish. His talent and courage earned him applause and donations.
According to the vice-president of the organizing committee Inoussa Zongo, this fi
rst edition was a real success despite the absence of sponsor and partners.
‘The quality of the organization, the level of the competitors, the mobilization of the first authorities of the province and the public gave a national character to the event. He therefore launched a call for sponsors and partners for future editions.
The high commissioner of the province Ibrahim Boly, patron of the ceremony, congratulated the ANVIKULTUR association for this new sporting initiative.
To this end, the authority instructed the Boromo Town Hall helped the competition to grow in view of the noble objectives. The prefect, president of the special delegation of Boromo, said the availability of the Town Hall to support the next editions because the stakes of such a competition for the municipality of Boromo are numerous.
The arrival ceremony of the Boromo Half-marathon was attended by several guests in addition to the administrative authorities. The ANVIKULTUR association also benefited from the support of goodwill whose
contribution was important in the champion awards.
Thus in the men’s category, the first received 125 thousand francs, a medal and gadgets, the 2nd 75 thousand a medal and gadgets and the 3rd 50,000 francs a medal and gadgets. The top three in the women’s category also received prizes in addition to donations from the public. The oldest athlete was also honored with various donations.
Source: Burkina Information Agency