Africa big names line-up for 2009 Obudu Mountain Race
Top African mountain running nations have confirmed their participation in the first African mountain running championships to be held next month in Obudu, Cross-River State in Nigeria.
The championships will hold alongside the Obudu International Mountain Race at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River state on November 28.
Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Secretary, Maria Worphil has confirmed that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the two-in-one race has received entries from such countries as Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya among other entries.
Worphill said: "We are really delighted that we have received entries from such world renowned mountain running nations as Kenya, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
"This has given us confidence that the first ever African mountain running championships will be a huge success in terms of quality of attendance and performance."
She also added that the AFN and the LOC for race will not make it an all-comers affair this year.
"You know this is the first edition and we want a number we can manage. That is why we want to concentrate on countries where mountain running is popular.
"This will not have been possible without the support of Governor Imoke who, together with the late president of WMRA, Danny Hughes came up with the idea of an African mountain running championships," she added.
Worphil also assured that this year's unique edition of the Obudu international mountain race will be the best ever, adding that "We have received over 100 entries for the international mountain race."
The race has already received the support of the new man at the helm of affairs at the WMRA, Italian, Bruno Gozzelino who hinted that the race may get a WMRA Grand Prix status as early as 2011 if the Obudu LOC makes a request.
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) is also backing the race and its General Secretary Lamy Fatty wrote the AFN recently to express their support for the innovative efforts of Governor Liyel Imoke especially regarding the African mountain running championships.
The Obudu International Mountain Race remains the highest paying mountain race in the world with the winner going home with $50,000.
