Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race

{{Infobox athletics race

| bgcolour = #FFCC54

| image =

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| date = Late November

| location = Obudu, Nigeria

| type = Mountain race

| distance = 11.25 km
(800 m incline)

| est = 2005

| homepage = [http://www.obudumountainrace.com/ Obudu Mountain Race]

}}

The Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race is an annual 11.25 km mountain running competition that takes place in late November in Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria. First held in 2005, it has the largest total prize money available of any mountain race and is known as "the world's richest mountain race".Hughes, Danny (2006-11-25). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=36848.html Kibiwott, Rehima victorious at Obudu Ranch Mountain Race]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.[http://www.wmra.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=443&Itemid=23 Dubois (AUS) wins the worlds (sic) richest mountain race]. World Mountain Running Association. Retrieved on 2009-12-05. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707005103/http://www.wmra.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=443&Itemid=23 |date=2011-07-07}} The men's and women's competition winners receive US$50,000 each,Hughes, Danny (2007-11-21). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=42451.html Reigning champions return to contest world’s richest mountain running race - Preview]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05. and there is a total prize pot of around $250,000.[http://www.obuduranchmountainrace.com/price.html The Prize]. Obudu Ranch Mountain Race. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.

The combination of the distance of the race and the rewards on offer means that it attracts world-class road running athletes as well as mountain running athletes.Hughes, Danny (2006-11-23). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=36825.html US$227,000 prize purse awaits at Obudu Ranch Mountain Race - PREVIEW]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.Hughes, Danny (2009-11-26). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=48427.html Tufa takes on specialists in the world's richest Mountain Running Race - PREVIEW]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05. It is an associate member race of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and is also endorsed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[http://www.obuduranchmountainrace.com/history.html History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103064744/http://www.obuduranchmountainrace.com/history.html |date=2010-01-03 }}. Obudu Ranch Mountain Race. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.

The race was created by Athletics Federation of Nigeria when Dan Ngerem was President and major sponsor was Nigerians Telecommunications Company MTN when Adrian Wood was CEO and Donald Duke the former Governor of Cross River State, who devised it as a means of raising awareness of Obudu Cattle Ranch – a tourist resort. The course begins at a height of 800 m above sea level,[http://www.obuduranchmountainrace.com/profile.html The Profile]. Obudu Ranch Mountain Race. Retrieved on 2009-12-05. and as it traces a path towards the summit of Mount Obudu it climbs a further 800 m, with the finishing point of the race being a total 1600 m above sea level.

File:Rita Jeptoo at the 2007 Boston Marathon.jpg]]

The inaugural edition in 2005, the first ever professional mountain running race to be held in the country, mainly comprised Nigerian runners and a select group of invited professional mountain runners. The following two editions saw prominent mountain runners mix with established road runners for the first time: Stockholm Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo took the women's 2007 title.Hughes, Danny (2007-11-24). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=42483.html Jeptoo, Awash cruise to Obudu Mountain victories]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05. The women's race at the 2008 edition demonstrated the advantages of mountain running experience as Mestawet Tufa, that year's World Cross Country silver medallist, built up a large lead but struggled with the incline near the finish. She was overtaken by Mountain Running World Champion Andrea Mayr, who set a new course record, while Tufa collapsed and failed to finish just 50 m from the line.Hughes, Danny (2008-11-29). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=48463.html Mayr holds off road running stars, but Wyatt fades, as course records fall - Obudu Ranch Mountain Race]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.

For the 2009 race, WMRA president Danny Hughes and Liyel Imoke (the new Cross River State governor) decided to inaugurate the first men's African Mountain Running Championships as part of the Obudu Mountain race.[http://allafrica.com/stories/200910020471.html CAA Backs Obudu Mountain Race]. Daily Champion (2009-10-02). Retrieved on 2009-12-06.[http://www.wmra.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=656&Itemid=2 1st African Mountain Running Championships]. World Mountain Running Association (2009). Retrieved on 2009-12-06.Ouma, Mark (2009-12-01). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=55016.html Ethiopian double at Obudu International]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-06. Habtamu Fikadu was elected as the first African Mountain Running champion, Geoffrey Kusuro took silver and Abebe Dinkesa won bronze. In the team competition, Ethiopia won while Uganda and hosts Nigeria won the minor medals.[http://www.wmra.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=657&Itemid=2 Ethiopians Runner dominated 1st African Mountain Running Championships 2009]. World Mountain Running Association (2009). Retrieved on 2009-12-06.