Mount Cameroon race of hope:

Southwestener wins after 13 years of wait

-SimpliceNdungeh 40, from Lebialem division did the race in 4h 26m to finish first

Ngwaya Yvonne

The 21st edition of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope has produced a new name in the male category. SYMPLICE Ndungeh from M’mouck-Fossimondi in Lebialem Division of the South West Region maximized full athletic skills in 4 hours 26 minutes to emerge champion of the 2016 edition of the Race on Saturday 27 February in Buea. It was nearly two decades since a Southwestener last won the race. The last time a South westerner won was in 1998 when another son of Lebialem emerged victorious.

                Ndungeh’s victory gives the South West Region 13 victories in the senior male category; behind the North West Region that has 14 wins in the same category.

                Three-time winner, GodloveGabsibuim (2012, 2013, & 2015) came second, closely followed by two-time winner, Mbatcha Eric Mangeh (2011, 2014).

                Talking to The Median Newspaper, SympliceNdungeh could not hide his joy: “I am really excited. It’s a dream come true. I always dreamt of this victory. So many people discouraged me, others encouraged me, but I knew this was certainly going to come someday. I am proud to have given the people of the South West Region the victory they have always longed for. I thank God, I thank the National and South West Regional Athletic Federations, all those who supported me; my family and friends. This trophy is for all of my fans. Long live the South West Region”.

                Yvonne Ngwaya from the North West Region emerged victorious in the female category, while her elder sister TIMBEP Patience Ngwaya and TatahCarine also from the North West grabbed the second and third positions respectively.

                In the relay race, the MOMAJANG Athletics club of Bamenda led by Youssouf Hassan finished first, followed by the EssombeLyonga Samuel led LIFA WILLS Athletics club of the South West Region and runners up FAP-Yaounde led by Voffo MOMO Ernest came third.

                In the male junior category, Adamu Isa Buba, Amadou Ibrahim and AZAH Afa ran unmatched athletics talents to occupy meritorious ranks.

                The imposing uprising talents in the junior female category featured from the first to the third-Claudine Bongben of the Kumbo Destiny Athletics club,JaffLadifatou SHALANYU and Tune MacrinaLenyuy of the Kumbo-based Authentic Athletics Club respectively. The enticing largesse of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope,The Median gathered ranged from ten millions FCFA Five millions and two millions five hundred thousands from the first to the third champions.

                Consolatory prizes in the form of gadgets and cash motivation were handed over to the athletes in acknowledgment of their active participation in the race.

                Speaking at the race opening Sports and Physical Education Minister, Ismail BidoungMkpatt urged all and sundry to exhibit the spirit of solidarity and patriotism through active athletics. He challenged the athletes to put in their best and observed that the race was out to promote and inculcate patriotism unto young Cameroonians.

                For his part, the National President of the Cameroon Athletics Federation, MotombyMbome Emmanuel pleaded the sponsors of the Race of Hope, Guinness Cameroun to renew the contract with the athletics federation and to consider also sponsoring other sporting events in the country.

                In all, 532 athletes competed in this 21st edition of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope; 38 of them were foreigners from eight (8) countries- 22 from the USA, 6 from France, 5 from Kenya, and one each from Spain, Central African Republic, Czech Republic, Germany and Britain.

                The initiator of the Race of Hope, Colonel KalkamaMalboum, Ambassador Roger Milla, the VC of UB Prof EgbeNalovaLyonga, Buea Mayor Ekema Patrick and many other dignitaries witnessed the 2016 edition of the Mountain Race that was hosted at the esplanade of the Molykoomnisports stadium.

                Cultural animations and other sporting displays combined to spice this 21st edition.

2016 WINNERS

SENIOR MALE CATEGORY

1st – SympliceNdungeh (4h 26’ 05)-South West

2nd – GabsibuimGodlove (4h 29’ 13)-North West

3rd – Mbatcha Eric Mangeh (4h 45’ 08) - North West

SENIOR FEMALE CATEGORY

1st – Ngwaya Yvonne (5h 27’ 15) - North West

2nd – Timbep Patience Guaha (5h 30’ 33) - North West

3rd – Tata Carine (5h 46’ 55) - North West

MALE VETERAN CATEGORY

1st – Nyame Roland

2nd – Fotso Emile

3rd – IssaFamBaya

FEMALE VETERAN CATEGORY

1st – CarineMbondkieh

2nd – Nfor Eunice

3rd – Ekemeyong Stella

JUNIOR MALE CATEGORY

1st – Amadou Isa (15years, NWR)

2nd – Amadou Ibrahim (17years, NWR)

3rd – HamzaAboubakar (15years, NWR)

JUNIOR FEMALE CATEGORY

1st – Claudine Bongben (15years, NWR)

2nd – JaffLadifatouShalanyuy (15years, Form Five, NWR)

3rd- TumeMachinaYiinyuy (16years, NWR)