Yomog Meje
Kenya’s Hillary Kipkorir Kemboi and Genet Yalew of Ethiopia claimed the men’s and women’s title at the 2014 Obudu International Mountain Race in Cross Rivers State, Nigeria on Saturday.
Hillary Kemboi took the men’s race in 1:02:34 ahead of Abebe Dinkesa of Ethiopia, who clocked 1:03:09 for second place , while Phillip Kiplimo of Uganda was third in 1:03:19.
Emmanuel Gyang was the best Nigerian finisher in the men’s race in 15th position (1:15:23) with Cletus Eyo, who is from Cross Rivers state, the second best finisher in the 19th position (1:18:47).
Ethiopia’s Kassahun Genet Yenew wins the women’s race at the 2014 Obudu International Mountain Race in Cross Rivers, Nigeria / Photo credit: LOC
Defending champion Genet Yalew of Ethiopia retained her title in the women’s race, returning a time of 1:01:20 to become the first woman to win the race back-to-back.
Stella Chessang of Uganda clocked 1:01:31 for second while Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia finished in third in 1:03:03.
Deborah Pam from Plateau State was the best Nigerian female after she clocked 1:10:09 to finish in sixth position
The first three finishers in the male and female categories went home with cash prize of US$50,000 (N8 million), US$8,000 and US$4,500 each respectively.
Uganda won the overall women’s team trophy at the 6th African Nations Mountain Running Championship ahead of Kenya and Nigeria.
The East African nation also won the overall team title ahead of Eritrea and Kenya in the male category of the African championships, which was held as part of the Obudu Mountain Race.
This year marked the 10th edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race held annually at the Ranch Resort in Obudu. The Obudu mountain resort has a course with a distance of 13km for men and 9.64km for women.
