Ethiopians sweep Obudu

LAGOS, NIGERIA (APA) — Ethiopia’s Habtamu Awash was the winnner of Nigeria’s 5th Obudu Ranch Mountain race, beating 2008 champion, Ababe Dinkesa, also of Ethiopia to the fifth position on Saturday.

With a time of 42.03 minutes, Awash beat more than 160 mountain runners in the 11km race from Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Holland and the host country Nigeria to clinch the first position and a cash prize of US$50,000.

The second position in the male category was won by Geoffry Kusuro of Uganda with a time of 42.11 minutes and received US$20,000, while the third position went to MacDonald Ondara with a time of 42.14 minutes and received US$9,000.

In the female category dominated by the Ethiopians, Manilu Daska of Ethiopia won the race with a time of 49.12 minutes and a cash prize of US$50,000.

The second position was won by another Ethiopian Mastawet Tufa with a time of 49.31 minutes and she received US$20,000, while the third position went to Meselech Hileyesus, also an Ethiopian, with a time of 49.54 minutes.

In local runners category, Danjuma Gyang of Nigeria won the first position in the male race with a time of 48.57 minutes and Janet Dung came first in the female group with 59.56 minutes.