Tura, Nov 7: An 11-year-old runner, Carnidaliana Ch. Momin, secured fifth position in the women’s category at the 10K Run organised as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the 1,000 Drums Wangala Festival, sharing the course with adult runners in an event that brought together participants from different age groups and communities.
The young runner’s performance was among the highlights of the event held on Saturday, which also saw the participation of veteran runner Dikseng N. Marak, aged above 50, underlining the inclusive nature of the competition and the growing appeal of running across generations.
Marak expressed happiness at competing alongside younger runners, saying that running with them made him feel happy and young. His
The 10-KM race began at 6:30 AM from Wangala A’dam, with Richa Kulkarni, SDO (Sadar), West Garo Hills, flagging off the run. The route passed through the entry point near the Old GSU Office towards the Ganol–Goerage Road before returning to Wangala A’dam.
The event witnessed participation from North, South and West Garo Hills, along with runners from the Khasi community and other districts who travelled to take part in the competition.
In the men’s category, Meck Milan B. Marak emerged as the winner, completing the course in 34 minutes and 49 seconds. Nirest R. Marak finished second in 35 minutes and 8 seconds, while Skhemlang Susa secured third place with a timing of 35 minutes and 20 seconds.
In the women’s category, Martha B. Sangma claimed the first position with a timing of 47 minutes and 12 seconds. Rakshilhi A. Marak finished second in 48 minutes and 33 seconds, followed by Ritimesa N. Marak, who clocked 48 minutes and 50 seconds to secure third place. Carnidaliana Ch. Momin’s fifth-place finish was another notable result in the category.
Consolation prizes were also awarded in both categories in recognition of the participants’ efforts.
The run was organised by the District Sports Office in collaboration with the District Administration, Tura, and the 1,000 Drums Wangala Committee as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the festival, a significant cultural event of the Garo community.
The participation of runners from different districts and communities gave the competition a wider regional character, while the presence of both young and veteran athletes highlighted the role of sporting events in promoting fitness, community participation and intergenerational engagement.
