Rono Philemon
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Obudu
Rono Philemon of Kenya Saturday won the male category of 9th Obudu Mountain Race returning with a time of 1 hour 43 minutes to beat the defending Champion, Abebe Dinkessa of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian, who won the 8th edition of the race in 2012, came second in the 2013 edition with a time of 1 hour 57 minutes in the male category of the race. Geoffrey Kusuro of Uganda returned with a time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 8 seconds to pick the third slot in the race.
It was also Ethiopian affair in the female category of the race when Yalew Genet clocked 58:55 to win the race while her compatriot Selam Abere (59:46 secs) to pick the second spot. Bertha Afera also of Ethiopia came third in the female category returning with a time of 1 hour in the main race which was 13 klm for men and 9.64 klm for women at the Obudu Mountain Resort. The first Nigerian male to brace the tape was Cletus Eyo while the first Nigerian female to brace the tape was Deborah Pam from Plateau State.
Our correspondent reports that participants were drawn from Nigeria Ethiopia; Uganda; Eritrea; Kenya; South Africa; the United Kingdom; the US; and Italy. www.Africanewscircle.com also reports that $280,000 (about N45 million) in prize money were won in the races which also drew athletes from the media, and the children category.
Ben Dubois of Australia won the maiden edition of the race Nov. 27, 2013 while Nigeria’s Danjuma Kopkuddi came second. Anna Pitchrtova of the Czech Republic won in the female category while Nigeria’s Laraba Joseph came second in the maiden edition of the race.
Abebe Dinkesa of Ethiopia won the male category of the race in 2012 while his compatriot, Etenesh Neda won in the female category.
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