BY EMMA UNA
IN Keeping with its record of producing new winners each year, Abebe Dinkesa of Ethiopia, the 2012 Obudu International Mountain Race winner was displaced to second place  by another Kenyan, Rono Philemon while Ugandan Godfrey Kusuru came third.

Rono Philemon won the 11 kilometre race in 1 hour, 43 seconds, Abebe Dinkesa braced the tape at a time of 1 hour, 57 seconds while third place winner, Godfrey Rono touched the finish line at the time of I hour, 2 minutes and 8 seconds.

The Ethiopians swept the female race, with 22- year-old Jenet Yellew making the distance at the time of 58 minutes, 55 seconds, Selem Ahere came second returning a time of 59 minutes, 48 seconds and Berha Afere coming third at the time of 1 hour, two seconds.

The First Nigerian male to brace the tape was Cletus Eyo while the first Nigerian female to brace the tape was Deborah Pam from PlateauState to cart home the, 2,000 USD each respectively, the top  prize money earmarked for the first male and female  Nigerians to brace the tape.

The first prizes for both male and female athletes are the sum of 50,000 USD dollars, 20,000 USD for the second place winners and 9,000 USD for third place winners.

For the second year running, the race track was moved from the tarred road to rough terrain which stretches through streams, rocky slopes and mountainous stretches.

Senator Liyel Imoke, the CrossRiverState governor who graced the race personally presented the prizes to the winners in a colourful ceremony at the Ranch Resort.

A total of 280,000 USD was won in the race, which is the 9th in the series, the first haven taken place in 2005