Response Of Foreign Athletes Excites Mountain Race Organisers

Organisers of the 7th Obudu International Mountain Race say they have received “significant interest from foreign athletes’’.

Mr Patrick Ugbe, the Cross River Commissioner for Information and Orientation, told The Tidesports in Calabar that they were willing to come and compete.

Ugbe said that no fewer than 30 elite athletes from outside Nigeria had indicated interest to participate, while the list of local athletes would be fine-tuned by the LOC and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

He added that the organisers were expecting between 150 and 200 athletes for this year’s race.

Ugbe, who is also the Media Officer for the race, said the defending men and women champions, Abebe Dinkesa and Meselech Haileyesus respectively, had confirmed their participation in the race.

According to him, the race will hold on Nov. 26 at the Ranch Resort in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River.

Dinkesa, an Ethiopian, set the first race record of 41 mins 45 secs in the event in 2008 and became a two-time winner in 2010

“Abebe has confirmed that he will be coming to defend his title when Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River flags off the race at the Obudu Ranch Resort.

“Dinkesa’s compatriot, Haileyesus, the defending women champion, has also confirmed that she will be at the Obudu Ranch for this year’s race.’’

He said the race organisers expected that Nigerians would take the star price of 50,000 dollars in the male and the female categories each this year.

“Many Nigerian runners are well prepared to run for the star price. We believe that because this race has been on for seven years now it is about time that Nigerians rise to take the star price.

“And we believe that they have been training, especially from the catchment areas where the mountain is.

“A lot of young people have been training seriously for this year and we believe that they will make an impact.”

The race is organised by the AFN and sponsored by the Cross River Government.

It enjoys support from the African Athletics Confederation (CAA), the World Mountain Running Association, (WMRA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations