The maiden edition of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) National 10km Cross Country Championship will hold Saturday , 28th January, in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state.
The race is being organised in fulfilment of the road map of the Tonobok Okowa-led executive board of the AFN to develop athletics across the six-Geo-political zones of Nigeria.
Tafida Gadzama, the federation’s road race sub-committee chairman , said the cross country championship is also being organised to help develop Nigeria’s middle and long distance runners.
“You know cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass,” said Gadzama , the first vice president of the AFN. “This way our athlete will be building enormous strength as the hills and mud develop power and resilience in their calves, hamstrings, and quads.
“Most of the world class long distance runners prepare for their season by running in cross country races. Kenya has held many races already since December and the World Cross Country Championships is holding next month in Australia,” Gadzama added.
Meanwhile, The AFN said registration of athletes will be done at the Jalingo Township Stadium while prize moneys will be given to top ten (10) finishers in the senior male and senior female categories.