Participants after the presser
By Guy-Bruno Maimo
The President of the South West Regional League of Athletics, Eteki Njoh Andrew, has announced that preparations are in full gear for the 31st edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, scheduled to take place on 21 February 2026, with a mandatory test race fixed for 24 January 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing with media practitioners in Buea, Eteki said the meeting was convened to review the 30th edition of the race, outline preparations for the upcoming event, and update the public on innovations and qualification procedures. He disclosed that preparations for the test race began two weeks ago, with official correspondence already sent to the Governor of the South West Region, the Divisional Officer of Buea, and security authorities to ensure proper coordination and safety before and during the race.
According to the Athletics boss, the race track has been inspected and cleared, and the environment is considered safe and ready for athletes to ascend Mount Cameroon. “We have checked the race track and it is good for the athletes to go up the mountain,” he assured.
Reviewing the 30th edition, Eteki described last year’s competition as encouraging, particularly because of the emergence of new champions, marking a departure from the era of consistent winners such as Tata Carine, Ngwang Catherine, and Sarah Etonga. “Every year now, we have new champions, and last year was no exception,” he said.
He also expressed satisfaction with the increased diversity of spectators, noting the unprecedented turnout of Muslims and people from northern Cameroon at the stadium, which he described as a sign of growing national interest in the race.
Some established athletes were absent due to personal circumstances, but Eteki revealed that Tata Carine, who missed last year’s race after childbirth, has returned to training and is expected to feature in the 31st edition.
Addressing questions about athlete performance, particularly the case of Jeremiah, who led part of last year’s race but failed to finish among the top three, Eteki attributed such outcomes to fatigue and failure to heed technical advice, waiting athletes against participating in races too close to the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, stressing that a minimum of 90 days’ rest is required to avoid exhaustion: “fatigue affected some athletes last year,” he noted.
The President emphasized that the test race is compulsory for all athletes seeking to compete in the main race, as it serves as the qualification mechanism based on the athlete’s up-and-back time.
While medical examinations are officially conducted 72 hours before the race, he clarified that athletes may arrive earlier for processing, though no medicals are allowed on race day. He explained that this system also applies to foreign athletes, who must first qualify in their home countries and undergo medical clearance before being accepted for the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope.
The South West Regional League has, for the first time, introduced cash prizes for the test race, with winners in both male and female categories set to receive 100,000 FCFA, second-place finishers 50,000 FCFA, and third-place athletes 25,000 FCFA, totaling 300,000 FCFA, alongside medals and trophies. League President Eteki Njoh Andrew also praised MTN as a “veritable partner” for providing jerseys, while announcing plans to spice up the event with fanfare and cultural dance groups to attract and entertain the Buea public.
Addressing claims that the federation is only active during the Mount Cameroon Race period, Eteki Njoh Andrew dismissed the criticism, stating that the office operates year-round and that this consistency has helped improve the South West Region’s athletics ranking over the past three years. He also disclosed ongoing talks with the Minister of Sports and partners to raise the main race prize money from 10 million FCFA to between 15 and 20 million FCFA, before calling on athletes at home and abroad to register for the test race scheduled for January 24, 2026.
The 31st Mount Cameroon Race of Hope will climax on 21 February, 2026, bringing together elite athletes to once again challenge the slopes of Mount Fako.
