Ayalew and Alemu show Ethiopian uphill prowess at Obudu
Alemu - a new Obudu record
The 7th running of the Obudu International Mountain Race on Monday showed that east African runners have just as much scope on the hills as they do on the flat, as Ethiopia dominated with men’s winner Mesfin Alemu setting a new course record…
Of course, the Obudu event is more akin to a road-mountain race (such as the Mt. Washington race in the US) as the 11km race climbs to an altitude of 1,765m above sea level, with 22 hair-pin bends – a la Alp d’Huez!
Also one of the big attractions comes in the prize money at Obudu, a whopping $50,000 for the winners, and with a total prize fund of nearly $200,000 this race will remain high on the radar of the world’s top athletes.
Ethiopian Mesfin Hunegnaew Alemu set a new men’s record of 41:50, easily beating compatriot Atsedy Tsegay. In the women’s event 18-year old Genet Ayalew (48:45) also won comfortably ahead of Ayelewu Wuda Yimer. 2009 World MR champ Geoffrey Kusoru took the African MR title after finishing seventh.
Results should appear here when ready…
Genet Ayalew - at just 18 a big prospect
