Obudu International Race defending champions for the men, Abebe Dinkesa and women, Etenesh Dironeda have confirmed their participation in the 9th edition of the race.

Abebe Dinkesa is bidding to become the first man to win four men’s title since the inception of the race in 2005.

The Ethiopian set a race course record in 2008 and went on to win the 2010 edition even before completing a treble last year.

Dinkesa

The Obudu mountain race will begin on November 23rd at the ranch resort in cross river state.

It  remains the highest paying mountain race in the world, with a star prize of $50,000 for both men and women while the star prize for the African nation’s mountain running championship is $15,000 for both men and women teams.

Meanwhile,President of the World Mountain Running Association Bruno Gozzelino,has stated that he will be present at the Obudu International mountain race.

Gozzelino said that he will be attending the event because it is a special one in the calendar of the Mountain races.

“The race is an important event in the calendar of the WMRA because it has helped to draw African athletes to mountain running in large numbers” he is quoted as saying on The Punch.

“Prior to the Obudu mountain race, African athletes were not competing in the WMRA Grand Prix series and the world championships.”

“But now Africans have been participating in large numbers. This year a Uganda, Richard Kiplimo, won the WMRA championships in Poland last month.”

“The race is one of our major events for this year.