South Africans Win  Valuejet IAU African Championship Remo 2019

South Africa and winner of men’s race of Valuejet IAU African Championdhship, Thobile Mbolekwa with South Africa Team Manager at Sagamu International Stadium, Sagamu, Ogun State south west Nigeria on Saturday

The maiden Valuejet IAU African Championship Remo 2019 was held Saturday in Sagamu. Ogun State in Nigeria with the South African athletes winning the men and women’s races.

This will be the first time an international ultra race event will be staged in Africa in the 35 years existence of the sport in the world.

While Thobile Mbolekwa returned at a time of 3 hrs. 02 secs. to win the men’s race, it took Saneliswe Mbangwa 3hrs 04mins. 45secs  to win the women’s race.

South Africa’s Saneliswe Mbangwa (middle)

A Zimbabwean male runner, Prosper Mutwra came second at a time of 3:05:25secs. while Nigerian Ilya Pam was third at 3:12:39secs.

In the female race, Nigerian Elizabeth Nuhu Power came second after running a time of 3:47:39secs. South African Leilani Scheffer secured the third position at a time of 3:48:01secs.

The South African athlete, Thobile Mbolekwa described the Remo 2019 the most challenging in the ultra race event he has attended. He applauded the organisation of the race and the crowd’s support along the routes of the race which was flagged off at the Sagamu International Stadium. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, President of International Association of Ultra Race (IAU), Nadeem Khan, President of Nigeria Ultra Race Federation, Solomon Ogba and other dignitaries were among the crowd that cheer the winners to victories inside the stadium Saturday morning.

Nigerian Ilya Pam came third in the race 

The Zimbabwean who came second in the men’s race. Mutwra applauded the organisers for given the ultra race athletes a sense of belonging, adding that he was so glad for coming second in the first ultra race event he would take part in.

The Nigerian who came third in the men’s race, Ilya Pam who hails from Jos in Plateau State said that though his pre-race dream was to win the tournament, especially when this was happening in his country, he was glad that he was among the Top 3 finishers.

An elated Governor of Ogun State applauded the courageous spirit and the zeal in the athletes to run the 50km race. He said that the Government of Ogun State will be ever ready to support an event like the Valuejet ultra race which gives the youths chance to develop themselves.

He promised that the race will be an annual event as effort will be taken to ensure that the next edition is glamorous.

The top 3 finishers in both the men and women’s categories were given prize monies from $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.