2020 Mount Cameroon Race of Hope: Former champions emerge winners!

              Tatah Carine, female champion of 2020 Mount Cameroon being escorted.

By Christopher Ambe 

Godlove Gabsibuim and Tatah Carine,both  natives of  North west region of Cameroon,  on Saturday ,February 22,emerged winners, respectively, in the  senior male  and female categories   of  this year’s Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, which was the 25^th  edition.

Both winners- who are not first-time champions- each bagged home a cash prize of 10 million Fcfa, for covering the 42 km course from Buea Molyko Stadium to the mountain summit and back.

About 300 of the 520 athletes from seven countries, who had registered, participated in the race, which took place amidst very tight security, to counter any surprise attacks from separatists, who, last year called for a boycott of the race but remained silent concerning this year’s event.

Athletes who took part in the race came from seven countries viz: France,Zimbabwe, Kenya,Uganda,Niger,RCA and Cameroon.

In this year’s race, Gabsibuim Godlove , the 32 year-old father of three, who had previously won the race four times (2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018), emerged victorious  in 4h 35m, while Tatah Carine, 22 year-old and two-time winner(2018 & 2019) of the race, finished it in 5h24m.

Simplice Ndoungue, 44 year-old carpenter from Lebialem, won the second place and Elvis Nsahbinla, 24, got the third place in the senior category (men), each receiving seven and five million Fcfa, respectively.

In the senior category (Women), 24 year-old Mildred Kitan,a student from GHS Kumbo, emerged second in 5h30m and Wirngo Kpufanla secured the third position, smiling home also with seven and five million Fcfa respectively.

Handsome prizes were also awarded to winners of the other categories of the race such as the relay race, junior and the veteran 

The Minister of Sport and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Mouelle Kombi and Emmanuel Motombi Mbome, President of Cameroon Athletics Federation, co-chaired the launch of the race, on Friday February 21 at the Molyko Omni sport Stadium.

The Minister Mouelle kombi, who chaired the start and closing ceremonies of the race, commended its smooth organization and spirit of fair play, which prevailed. 

The Local Organizing Committee of the race was chaired by Southwest Governor Bernard Okalai Bilai, who accompanied Sport and Physical Education during the ceremony.

In his speech at the launch, which was marked by march past, cultural dances and musical displays, Sport Minister Mouelle Kombi reiterated President Paul Biya’s call for a return to normalcy and peace in the restive Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon.

This year’s race witnessed a far more impressive turnout of the Buea population, who thronged the stadium and lined the race course to cheer the athletes.

What is today called Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, with the official sponsor being the Cameroon Government, started as Guinness Mount Cameroon Race in 1973 with Guinness SA as the official promoter. 

The 1973 maiden edition saw John Ekema emerge as the champion.

It was only in 1982 that the race opened its doors to women and that year, Emilia Mojoko Ngondja became the first-ever woman to win the race.

In  1996,the the race was christened  Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, and the Cameroon Government and Cameroon Athletics  Federation became the official sponsors and promoters.