Kenya’s Kemboi & Ethiopia’s Yenew Winners at 10th Obudu Mountain Race

Kenya’s Hillary Kipkorir Kemboi and Ethiopia’s Kassahun Genet Yenew emerged winners in the men’s and women’s event respectively at the 2014 Obudu International Mountain Race in Cross Rivers State Nigeria on Saturday.

Hillary Kemboi claimed the men’s race prize after finishing ahead of Adebe Dinkesa of Ethiopia and Uganda’s Phillip Kiplimo in 1:02:34secs.

Second-placed Dinkesa crossed the finish line in 1:03:09secs, while Kiplimo was 0:00:10secs slower than the Ethiopian in third-place.

Emmanuel Gyang posted the best result by a Nigerian in the men’s race- 15th with a finish time of 1:15:23secs over the 13km course. Cletus Eyo, a native of Cross Rivers State, came second best among Nigerian runners in 19th position; time: 1:18:47secs.

Kassahun Genet Yenew Became the First Woman to Defend the Obudu Mountain Race Title Following Her Triumph in 2014. Image: LOC.
Kassahun Genet Yenew Became the First Woman to Defend the Obudu Mountain Race Title Following Her Triumph in 2014. Image: LOC.

Defending champion Genet Yenew became the first woman to win back-to-back titles, returning a time of 1:01:20secs.

Uganda’s Stella Chassang finished second in 1:01:31secs while Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia came third in 1:03:03secs.

Deborah Pam from Plateau State topped the Nigerian contingents having finished 6th in 1:10:09secs over the 9.64km course.

The top-three finishers in both male and female categories carted home the sum of US $50,000 (N8m), US $8,000 and US $4,500 each respectively.

Uganda won the overall women’s tea trophy at the 6th African nations Mountain Running Championship ahead of Kenya and Nigeria.

The East African nation also won the overall tea title ahead of Eritrea and Kenya in the male category of the African championships, 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.