The 3. African Mountain Running Championship launches 30. World Mountain Running Championships 2014!
30/11/2011
“Ugandan, Geofrey Kosuro, and Nigerian, Dung Janet, are African Champion 2011, leading their Nation to win African title in the Team list.
But, at Obudu, this year, not only the athletes were in first row, but also the LOC, with its Chairman William Archibong, and the AFN, with the Vice President, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, General Secretary, Maria Wophil, and other Council member as Gloria Obajimi, that – with the fantastic support of the highest political authorities of Nigeria from the Governor of Cross River State,  ,Sen. Liyel Imoke CON – have officially announced the candidature to organize the 30. World Mountain Running Championships in 2014 on the occasion of the tenth edition of the race, in presence of WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, and WMRA Council member, Erhan Basoglu, ,present in Nigeria also for preparing for 2012 a new track of the Obudu race, respecting WMRA technical regulations.
Coming back to the races, in the men African Championships, Geofrey Kosuro (finishing fourth in the overall list of the Obudu International race, behind three Ethiopian runners) defeated Kenyan, Ondara Macdonald, silver medallist (and fifth in the Obudu race), and his nationl fellow, Thomas Ayeko, bronze medallist (eight in the Obudu race, after Kenyan, Romo Philemon, and Ethiopian, Abshero Ayele). Five time European Champion, Turkish Ahmet Arslan finished in 18 place, after having arrived to the venue of the competition just few hours before the race, ,due a long journey. Uganda men team took gold medal in front of Eritrea, silver, and Nigeria, bronze, instead Egypt finished in fourth position.
In the women African Championship only Nigerian runners were officially untried by the National Athletic Federation: so the winner arrived in front of her countrywomen Nancy Mathew (silver), Aderonke Olumudi (bronze) and Deborah Pam, fourth. In the women team , list no other Countries sent official team despite the fact that Ethiopian and Kenyan runners were present in the race, taking the first six places in the Obudu race.”
“At the 7. edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race 2011, Ethiopian male runners made a clean sweep of top cash prizes.
For the third year running, Ethiopia has won the race, but this time it was through 22 year old Mesfin Hunegnaewai who brushed aside the challenge of 135 other male runners and crossed the finishing line in a record time of 41.50. His compatriots Atsedy Tsegay and Azmeraw Beke came second and third with the time of 42.12 minutes and 42.30 minutes respectively.
In the female category the Ethiopians also dominated winning the race with second another Ethiopian, while Kenyan runner was third at the finish the lane. For this category, it was 18 years old Yalew Genet of Ethiopia who came first after outrunning 34 others to win with the time of 48.45 minutes while Ayelewu Wuda Yimer, also of Ethiopia, placed second by returning a time of 49.10 minutes to beat Margaret Wangari of Kenya, who placed third.
The cash prize for the runners in the male and female category was the same as each of the gold medallists got $50,000, silver medallists $20,000, and bronze medallists $9,000.
Genet said the standard athletes that participated were very high, just as the organisation of the competition was of international standard.
136 international athletes men and 34 women participated in the race which attracted large number of spectators.
Edited by Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)
Photos by Patrick Ugbe
– in front page, Mesfin Hunegnaewai,
– in second page, Yalew Genet “