The city of Douala throbbed on Sunday, July 12th, to the rhythm of the second edition of the Madiba Run 4 Health, a sporting event initiated by UCB that brought together hundreds of participants for sport, health, and entertainment.
The various races, including the half-marathon (21 km), the 10K, and the Walkathon, wound their way through several streets of Douala before converging on the Bépanda Reunification Stadium, the finish line of this grand public celebration.
On the sporting front, Kenyan athletes once again confirmed their supremacy in the half-marathon. In the women’s race, Marion Jepkoech triumphed over Chadian Fraida Hassanatie, while her compatriot Sharon Kipechumba completed the podium. In the men’s category, Kenya achieved a one-two finish thanks to Geoffrey Kipchirchir Kirwa’s victory, followed by Festus Kipngetich Kipruto. Cameroon’s Abel Junior Bilong secured a strong third place in front of his home crowd.
In the 10-kilometer race, Cameroonian athletes dominated. In the women’s race, Liliane Nguetsa took first place ahead of Otomo Medounga, while Macceline Ninying finished third. In the men’s race, Jean Bahoussou climbed to the top step
of the podium. He was followed by Ibrahim Zakarinadou in second place and Hamidou Hamidou in third.
The top athletes in the half-marathon received cash prizes of 3 million FCFA for the winner, 2 million FCFA for second place, and 1 million FCFA for third place, in addition to numerous other prizes donated by the event’s partners. Beyond the competition, the Marathon Village, located at the Reunification Stadium, offered several days of trade fairs, tasting areas, health awareness campaigns, and various activities for the general public.
The day concluded in a festive atmosphere with a major concert featuring several renowned artists, including Locko, Phil Bill, and other talents from the Cameroonian music scene.
Through the Madiba Run 4 Health, UCB reaffirms its commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, sports participation, and strengthening social cohesion, while offering the community an event that combines athletic performance, health awareness, and entertainment.
