At the 6th Senator Douye Diri National Marathon held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, athletes from Plateau State achieved remarkable success. In the elite male category, James Gang, who finished second in the previous year, took first place with a time of 30:58.75 seconds, leading a strong field of 207 runners. His teammate, Francis James, secured second place with a time of 32:05.87 seconds, while Ishmael Sadjo from Cross River finished in third place at 32:14.31 seconds.

In the elite female category, Plateau athletes dominated the podium, with Akusho Lydia-Thomas claiming victory in 38:30.37 seconds. She was followed closely by her compatriots, Vivian Obadiah and Tanko Iyanj, who finished in second and third place with times of 38:52.78 and 38:54.84 seconds, respectively. This dominance in the elite categories underscores the strength and talent of Plateau's athletes, particularly in long-distance running events.

Additionally, the teens categories showcased emerging talent, with Andrew Richards from Bishop Dimieri Grammar School winning the male teens category. Okenema Samuel from Community Secondary School and Chinedu Deindein from BDGS rounded out the top three. The competition highlighted not only the prowess of seasoned marathoners from Plateau but also the potential of younger athletes aspiring to follow in their footsteps.