Ethiopian male runners on Monday made a clean sweep of
medals and top cash prizes at the 7th edition of the Obudu International
Mountain Race.
For the third year running, Ethiopia has won the gold, but
this time it was through 22 year old Mesfin Hunegnaewai who brushed aside the
challenge of 50 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 to win silver and bronze with the time of 42.12 minutes and 42.30
minutes respectively.
In the female category the Ethiopians also dominated winning
the gold and silver while Kenya won the bronze.
For this category, it was 18 years old Yalew Genet of
Ethiopia who came first after outrunning 34 others to win the gold with the
time of 48.45 minutes while Ayelewu Wuda Yimer also of Ethiopia placed second
to win the silver by returning a time of 49.10 minutes to beat Margaret Wangari
of Kenya who placed third to win the bronze.
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.
After winning his race Mesfin said “I like Mountain Race and
have been running; I thank God that last I have won this year’s Obudu Race.”
Projecting on what he will do with the cash prize of $50,000
Mesfin said, “I will use the money to buy house for my family because I am
married with a child.”
The female champion for this year, Genet said she has never
participated before in the Obudu.
Genet said the standard athletes that participated were very
high, just as the organisation of the competition was of international standard.
Genet promised that she will defend her title next year when
the 8th edition of the event would be staged.
Apart from the host country Nigeria, other countries that
had their athletes participate in this year’s edition are Egypt, Kenya, Eritrea,
Malaysia Ethiopia, Uganda, Turkey and the host, Nigeria .
Eighty –six international athletes participated in the race
which attracted large number of spectators.
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