2011 Mount Cameroon Race of Hope Takes Place In Buea Amidst Threatening Weather
By Moki S. Mokondo in Buea for Mount Fako News Centre
26th February 2011
After Close to 8 hours of heavy downpour in Buea on the eve of the 16th Edition of the
Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, Saturday 26 February, 2011, turned out to be a very bright day with the sun taking its rise as early as 6am. With such bright weather, the more than 610 athletes who qualified to run the race in different categories stormed the Molyko Stadium before starting time to challenge Mount Cameroon in one of Africa’s cruellest foot race.
As the athletes gained the courage with hope to dare the roughest and steepest slopes to reach the highest point above sea level in West Africa, it became a point of attraction to many viewers. While some athletes gathered the steam putting up their talents and last strength to gain frontline positions, others turned out to be a source of humour to spectators as they showed no sign that they will cover at least 20 per cent of the race. Just about twenty minutes into the race, some athletes were already panting and others moving with their hands around their waists to support their weights.
By 4 hours 30 minutes after start time, it was Eric Mbatcha who crossed the finishing line as this year’s winner. It became more of a North West Regional affair as second and third placed athletes, Godlove Gabsbun and Ibrahim Lawan respectively, also came from the North West Region. But surprisingly, one would have taken fourth placed runner, William Lyonga Mondoa, native of Fako for the winner. Young Lyonga Mondoa who comes from Wvasingi village in Buea, and who has featured between 4th and 9th positions in the last 5
editions of the race was escorted by a crowd of Buea inhabitants as their hero. He improves his racing time with 15 minutes. 2009 male champion Voffo Momo of the South Region in the French speaking part of Cameroon was 10th in this edition while last years
winner, Joseph Tiben Wirba, was hardly noticed in the race.
Some three foreign athletes animated this year’s edition of the race from the take-off point right up to the point they crossed Upper Farms into the forest. These foreign athletes, made of two Kenyans and one American (a certain Joseph) were at top speed at the beginning of the race, leading the race from the start to around midway between Upper Farms and Hut I on the ascent. They must have gradually lost strength as they were not heard of again by the time they crossed Hut One. But the American reached the Summit and back in a very discoursing position. Prominent in the Mount Cameroon Race was Mola Jackai, who was decorated during last the last edition as the oldest participant and most consistent in the race. He ran in the veteran category with the returning point at Upper Farms. The juniors ran to Hut One and back to the Molyko Stadium.
While new champions where made in the male category, just the same faces featured in the female class. Yvonne Ngwaya took 5hours 33 minutes 33seconds to confirm her supremacy in this category winning the race for the third consecutive time. Yvonne’s elder sister Patience Ngwaya shifted from 2nd position last year to 3rd this year. Lizette Ngalim who came 3rd last year finished 2nd this year. It was still the athletes from the North West Region who dominated this category as they did same for the Junior, Relay and Veteran categories.
Despite criticisms by Buea dwellers on the lack of publicity like in the days of Guinness Mount Cameroon Races, this edition of the race turned out to be better organised compared to the last editions. Unlike the past editions that used to be planned in Yaounde by those in the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education and members of the National Athletics federation, this edition was handed over to local organisers in Fako, and Yaounde only provided the funds. Security was well ensured at most levels of the race. Uniformed men were placed from the start point right up to the Summit of Mount Cameroon.
However, Buea inhabitants have maintained that the race used to be so cheerful in the days Guinness Cameroon SA that one would not wish to miss it. Guinness used to organise a series of activities weeks prior to the race itself that used to catch the attention of many.