Mariama T. Jallow and Lamin Sanneh were showered praises for the duos' star performance in the just wrapped up marathon in Dakar, Senegal.

The heroine of the Gambia contingent Mariama T Jallow pocketed a colossal amount of 1.000.000 CFA after topping the women's race with a timing 36.56 seconds. Her male Gambian counterpart, Lamin Sanneh, finished fourth on a timing of 31.07 seconds with food prices in a race competed by one hundred and two athletes with seventeen women.

At a conveyed press conference yesterday evening, the duo's remarkable effort was hailed by speakers on turn.

"The athletes did very well and raised Gambia's flag high and I hope this will be a stepping stone", Says Max Jallow executive Secretary of the National Sports Council at a briefing held at the Gambia Athletics Association's new headquarters, Independence Stadium.

Deputizing the sports minister, Malan Jassey, Deputy Permanent Secretary revealed that the sports ministry intends to give a befitting 'handshake' in recognition of the athletes' deserved effort.

Athletics' President Dodou Capi Joof tagged 2012 as the year as the 'best' for the sport he heads, citing the ground breaking records in Olympics, all Africa games and others.

Summing up his speech, Capi who doubles as a juror at Confederation of African Athletics, pleaded to the sports ministry for equal consideration to be given to athletics in the share of the nation's cake.