Leadership (Abuja)
Edem Edem
12 December 2007
The Cross River State Government intends to create a competition for children in subsequent editions of the Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race.
The decision of government was borne out of the fact that many children who were considered as under- aged did not only take part in the 11-Kilometre race, but also beat adult competitors.
Another reason was to encourage Nigerians participate in mountain racing, which is currently being dominated by East Africans.
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State stated this at the end of the third edition of the competition and disclosed that the race which was started by his predecessor, Donald Duke, had attracted global attention to the Obudu Ranch Resort, adding that the competition was not just to help athletes better their lives, but to promote the resort.
Imoke said the third edition had prepared quality athletes from all over the world with new records, which also had European champions being beaten. He commended the president of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), Danny Hughes, for his support which has kept the competition getting better.
He noted that an 11-Kilometre race was not easy as it was of great significance to the state government which intends to create a children's race next year after the media race, saying that in the race children would also win medals to encourage participation.
The governor thanked the sponsors for their support over the years as well as the athletes, without whom, the competition would not have been a success.
The president of WMRA, Danny Hughes said the competition was getting wonderful from year to year with improvement and commended Rita Jeptoo Stienei of Kenya for setting new mountain race record which was an indication that the quality of the race was improving. Hughes noted that though the Kenyans and Ethiopians had wonderful athletes, he hoped they would expect challenges in the next editions.
President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Violet O. Odogwu-Nwajei (MON) thanked the state government for continuing from where the erstwhile governor, Duke stopped, while requesting the state to sponsor athletes to represent Nigeria in international races outside the country which would be to the glory of the state.
Odogwu-Nwajei commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for working hard and hoped to see the athletes in future competition as well as register for GLO half marathon in Lagos.
Chairman of the LOC, Sir William Archibong, in his opening remarks, said the competition had lived up to its billing and would continue to be so while commending Imoke for the supports which the committee received.
Archibong disclosed that registration for the race had kept increasing since inception and its standard and timing had improved with each competition, stressing that the race was not an all comers' affairs as it was meant to produced good winners worldwide.
He said as a sign of improvement, previous winners were defeated, while new champions emerged with more countries showing interest in the race.
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