Ghana has become the latest country to confirm for next weekend’s Obudu
international mountain race and the African Nations mountain running
championships.
The West African nation will be making her debut at the championships which
holds on Saturday November 27 at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River.
Athletic Federation of Nigeria secretary general, Maria Worphil revealed
yesterday in Abuja that the Ghanaians have sent in their entries and will storm
Nigeria next week for the event which has become an important race in the
calendar of the World Mountain Running Association.
“The Ghanaians have sent in their entries for the Africa Nations championships
and we are delighted that we are having a fellow English speaking West African
nation in the race. Last year only Nigeria and Cameroun represented the
sub-region with the East Africans dominating with three (Uganda, Kenya and
Ethiopia) while the North Africans have only one - Egypt”, revealed Worphil, a
former national handball star fondly called Maria in athletics circle.
Maria also revealed that Egypt,Kenya and Ethiopia have already confirmed their
participation while another potential newcomer,Botswana is also interested in
participating.
Registration has already been closed for the individual Obudu international
mountain race which is in its sixth edition and a total of 200 athletes have
been confirmed for the race which has $50,000 as the main prize for winners in
the male and female category.
The Obudu international mountain race is still the highest paying mountain race
in the world. The total prize money for this year’s edition has been increased
from $245,500 to $278,000 due to the addition of the African Nations
Championship for women. The prize money for the first to the 10th position for
this year’s race however remain the same with the winners in each gender
category going home with $50,000 each while $20,000 and $9,000 respectively
will go to the second and third placed finishers.The prizes for 4th -10th placed
finishers in each category also remain at $4,500, $4,000, $3,000, $2,500,
$2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.
The Obudu Mountain Race is a weeklong event featuring activities like a Doping
in Sports seminar,the Media Race,the Children’s Race and a Gala Night/Fireworks
aside the main race.
The main race/African Nations Mountain running Championship covers a distance of
11 Kilometres uphill, to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level, taking you
to one of the finest tourist destinations in the world, the Obudu Mountain
Resort.
