1 December 2008
Lagos — If plans on the ground get the approval of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the Annual Obudu International Mountain Race may become Africa's first official mountain challenge championship.
Danny Hughes, president of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) revealed at the weekend that a proposal has been forwarded to the world athletics body to give a nod to the championship.
"Yeah, we have already forwarded a proposal to IAAF. Once it is approved, Obudu race will become Africa's first mountain challenge championship. I have discussed with the Governor (Senator Liyel Imoke) and he is very enthusiastic about it. As you know, everyone here is looking forward to it for more quality races involving countries," he said.
Hughes revealed that should the approval be granted, it would then mean a change to the format of the Obudu championship to make athletes participation to be in the colours of, and for their countries rather than for themselves as it is the case right now.
Governor Imoke also confirmed the existence of the proposal. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 4th edition at the weekend, he said he gave his blessing to the proposal when it was tabled because he believed it would further enhance the image the championship has created for Nigeria.
"Countries are now going to be looking forward to competing in the only mountain challenge championship on the African continent. And of course, we are still going to have prize money attached to it, but the focus will now be different," Imoke said.
He expressed his happiness at this year's edition because of the improvement in the times returned by both the male and female runners.
"This edition has been quite good. As you can see, the records in the male and female races were lowered. It shows that the quality of this edition was really good. We hope that next year will be better when it would have become the official African Mountain Challenge."
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