Atletismo de montaña: 810m de ascenso en 11,25 kms: Obudu Ranch (sáb 24/nov)

Reigning champions return to contest world’s richest mountain running race - Preview

The 3rd Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race (11.25km with a 810m ascent) takes place in Cross River State, Nigeria, this Saturday, 24 November.

Both of last year’s winners – men: Francis Kibiwott (KEN) and women: Kedir Rehima (ETH) – return to chase the first prize of US$50,000 which is on offer in both races.


Lead pack of the 2006 race ascending Obudu Mountain (foto: Danny Hughes)


MEN

Kibiwott, who ran a personal best of 59:26 when coming second in the Berlin Half Marathon last April, leads an impressive international entry and will be challenged by nine other invited Kenyans, 11 invited Ethiopians, and hundreds of Nigerian hopefuls.

Fellow Kenyan Robert Kipchumba, 23, 2000 World Junior 10,000m track champion and the silver medallist at the 2006 World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, should provide Kibiwott’s most serious opposition. Ethiopian Tola Tadese (ETH), 13th on the track over 10,000m at the World Championships in Osaka this summer and sixth on the road in Debrecen 2006, is the next likeliest challenger.

This event is of great interest as it brings together top class road and cross country athletes with the world’s best mountain runners. The latter group will be led by Colombia’s Rolando Ortiz, last year’s runner-up and the 2006 World Mountain Running champion, together with his compatriot John Jairo Vargas Espinosa, who is the South American Mountain Running champion.

WOMEN

The women run the same course as the men and are awarded the same prize money. Last year’s winner of the $50,000, Ethiopian Kedir Rehima faces the greatest ever line-up for the race that includes seven fellow Ethiopians and six Kenyans joining the large field of Nigerians for the first time.

Her strongest challenger is likely to be Kenyan Mary Jepkosgei Keitany who only a few weeks ago took the silver medal in the World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy.

The mountain running opposition will be led by current World Mountain Champion Anna Pichrtova (CZE), who returns to the scene of her serious motor car accident when travelling to this event last year, and Anitah Hakenstadt Eversten of Norway, the current European Mountain Running champion, who was third last year.

Colombia’s South American Mountain Running champion, Maria Eugina Rodriguez is also another major contender.

Even those who do not take the top prize will be well rewarded if they finish in the first 8, with runner-up earning $20,000, 3rd 9000, 4th 8000 5th 7000 6th 6000; 7th 5000 and 8th 4000

Danny Hughes for the IAAF