One of Nigeria’s celebrated athletics road running families will be making history when they compete for the title of the Jos Cross Country race.
The family which is made up of Ilya, Deborah, and Paul James, have their eyes on the podium at the finish point of the race when it starts this Saturday, February 18 at the Rhino Golf Course, Jos, Plateau State
The race is the first Cross country competition for men and women runners in over 40 years of athletics history in Jos metropolis, Plateau State.
Meanwhile, it’s not the first time the Pam family members, especially Iliya and Deborah, who are of the same parents achieved this rare feat.
The duo once did it in 2018 when they emerged as winners of the 10th edition of the 42km Splash FM Ibadan City Marathon.
Meanwhile, Deborah is a three-time winner of the race, while her brother Iliya, is a two-time winner.
The confirmation of the likes of Nyango Gyang Boy, the first Nigerian finisher at the 2023 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon last weekend in Lagos, at 2:27:15, Paul James Pam, also a former winner of the Splash FM 42km race, and Emmanuel Gyan Gwom, the 2019 Okpekpe race ‘Nigerian’ winner, Stephen Joshua Dalop, in the race makes it more interesting.
The Jos Cross Country competition, which is being organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, is a follow-up on the efforts of the Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, who last year organised a training camp for selected elite Nigerian runners towards boosting their performances in international marathon races.
Now, he has come up with the first Cross Country competition in Nigeria in 40 years taking a practical bold step in developing long-distance running in Nigeria.
