Mofor Jeremiah and Fai Joyce have emerged champions of the Mount Cameroon Test Race in the South West region, both in the male and female categories respectively. Both athletes are the first to win the 100,000 FCFA price money introduced by the South West Athletics Federation this year as they prepare ahead of the main race next month.
The kick-off of the Test Race for the South West region ahead of the 31st edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope was given by the national president of athletics, Emmanuel Motomby Mbome alongside the regional president Eteki Andrew Njoh at about 7:49 am at the Molyko Omnisports Stadium.
With over 200 athletes taking part in the journey from the Molyko Omnisports Stadium to the Intermediate Hurt and back, two times winner Mofor Jeremiah made his third consecutive victory in the Test Race for the senior male category after crossing the finish line in 2 hours 21 minutes and 18 seconds. He was followed by Johannes Moka who completed the journey in 2 hours 25 minutes and 24 seconds while on the third position was Fiemoh Vitalis in 2 hours 27 minutes and 34 seconds.
Following the victory, Mofor Jeremiah thanked the organizers while looking forward to the main race.
“I am very happy for that and I will appreciate the organizers of the race and everybody who take part in the race, I appreciate them and I thank them. By the grace of God, I just pray that let God give me the powers and I used to win this selection race so I’m sure I can use the power to win the full race. I believe in God, with God, I think it’s possible.”
In the female category, it is last year’s champion, Fai Joyce, who first crossed the finished line after 3 hours 9 minutes and 44 seconds of a tedious contest. The second position was clinched by Lenjo Zalihatu who arrived in 3 hours 44 minutes 23 seconds and was followed by Chiebe Laura who completed the task in 3 hours 51 minutes and 3 seconds.
To Fai Joyce, the challenge in the race was due to the nature of the track. She also emphasized that checking her health condition is what she needs to do ahead of the main race.
“I need to check on my health because if it’s about training, I think it is not now that I need to train. Yes, I need to take good care of my health, keep myself, go check myself if there is anything that will hinder me as far as health is concerned so I can treat it before time.“
The Test Race also saw the participation of veterans like the queen of the mountain, Sarah Liengu Etonge who was winner of the veteran category for women while Wotani Efoe was winner in the male category.
The Test Race in the South West region saw an innovation which was the introduction of price money for the first 3 athletes in both the senior male and female categories. The first place had 100,000 FCFA with a trophy each, 75,000 FCFA for the second and 50,000 FCFA for the third place.
Speaking to the press following the Test Race, the South West Regional President of Athletics Eteki Njoh Andrew expressed satisfaction with the organization of the events, as well as the sponsors, while also promising to ensure that issues with the track will be taken care of before the main events.
“I am a very happy man this day. In the first place, we registered about 204 athletes this morning who went up to challenge the gods of Mount Cameroon. Amongst these 204 athletes, we are going to pre-select the very best athletes who are going to challenge the Chariot of the gods on the 21st of February. Our athletes have gone up and they have come back hitch free. You can see for yourself, our partners have been veritable with us, they have all done a wonderful job to make sure that this pre-selective race comes out successful. The new innovation that we had this year was giving cash prizes at trophies.
… we are giving the Mount Cameroon Park a window of opportunity to look for a solution, to clear the road. If not, we are going to set the road on fire because that’s the method that our forefathers taught us to clear the tracks of the mountain”
Following the conclusion of the test race, the focus will now be on the main race that has been scheduled for February 21.
