More than 2000 participants, including national-level athletes took part in the Agri- Marathon, organized by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) on Sunday at 6.30 AM. The marathon was conducted as a forerunner of a national-level symposium by the Energy and Environment Engineering Department of the university.

The races were held in different age-categories – 5 km race for school girls, 7 km for school boys and women, and 9 km race for men. TNAU Vice Chancellor, K. Ramaswamy inaugurated the event emphasizing the need for conservation of non-renewable energy.

The track began and ended at TNAU, and covered Gowripura Road, Lawley Road, and Thadagam Road, where the school girls returned. Others proceeded to Azhakesan Road, NSR Road, and then entered TNAU through GCT College Road.

Vinod Kumar, Coordinator of the Agri-Marathon conveyed that the event aims to create awareness about energy conservation and environmental sustainability.

S. Victor Samuel Rajan of Karunya University won the men’s race, while K. Anupriya of Dr. N.G.P College for Women and S. Mahesh kumar from Government Higher Secondary School, Madukkarai won the women’s and boys’ title respectively. L. Soumya Sri from M.H.S.S won the girls’ race. “A total amount of Rs.50,000 was given away as prizes,” said Vinod Kumar. The top ten winners of all categories were given medals. All the participants were gifted with tree saplings

Assistant Superintendent M. Suresh Kumar, Dr. C. Divakar Durairaj Dean of the engineering department, and Dr. Makimairaj, dean of the agriculture department, also took part in the event.

The ninth Annual National Level Symposium will be held on September 16, 2015. more than 500 candidates, including students, PhD researchers, and scholars from all over the nation will participate in the meet.