Koon jets back home with maiden half marathon gold for South Sudan
South Sudanese long-distance runner Yach Majok Koon returned home to a heroic welcome after winning this year’s Great Freedom Run, in Cairo, Egypt.
Koon stunned the bookmaker when he stopped the clock ahead of everyone else in one hour, 11 minutes and 34 seconds to set up a new course record at the World Athletics Aims Certified racecourse.
This year, his victory was also a first for a South Sudanese athlete outside the country.
The race attracted athletes from Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Libya, among other countries.
The 26-year-old ran bravely, taking the lead at the 15-kilometre mark and never looked back.
“This gold medal and the trophy are for South Sudan; I ran in the name of the country, therefore they are for the country,” he said at the Juba International Airport after he jetted back into the country Monday, January 16.
“Without a doubt, with help, we can perform better. “South Sudanese are talented; all we need is government and private sector assistance,” he added.
The South Sudan Athletic Federation’s Secretary General, Marco Akol Deng said: “We appreciate what you did in displaying our flag proudly. We committed to putting in a lot of effort to help you and your colleagues fly our flag high.”
He also disclosed that the association is getting ready to send at least two athletes to Djibouti later in January for another competition.
