The total prize money for the 6th international Obudu Mountain Race has been increased by over $35,000 by the organisers of what has become the best mountain race in the world, following the introduction this year, of the women's version of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship.

The total prize money has gone up from $245,500 to $278,000. 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.

William Archibong, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee explains the reason for the increase in the total prize money in a brief statement yesterday in Calabar.

'The increase in the total figure is necessitated by the addition this year of the female team version of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship. The prize money for this event is also the same for both the men and women', he explained

The African Championship draws prize money of $15,000 for first team position, $10,000 for second and $7,500 for third team position for both men and women. The prize monies for best Nigerian finishers (Male/Female) and Media Race (Male/Female) are also unchanged with the top three finishers going home with $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

Also unchanged are the prize monies for the Children's race where a total of N590, 000 will be shared among the top 10 finishers with the top three in the boys and girls categories carting home N100,000, N80,000 and N50,000 respectively. Fourth to 10th placed finishers will get N20,000,N10,000,N9,000,N8,000,N7,000,N6,000 and N5,000 respectively.

The Obudu international mountain race is organized by the Cross River State Government, in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).It enjoys tremendous support from the African Athletics Confederation (CAA),the World Mountain Running Association,(WMRA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The race 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.

This year's race which has been confirmed for the last week of November will feature aside the main race such activities as a Doping in Sports Seminar, the Media Race, Children's Race, and a Gala Night/Fireworks. The main race will flag-off alongside the African Championship at 8.00 a.m on Saturday 27th November, 2010.