As part of his long-term plan to develop distance running in Nigeria to world-class standards, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said the first national cross-country championship organized by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue on February 18 in Jos, the capital of Plateau state.
The championship, according to the Minister of Sports is necessary so that the athletes can develop their strength and become better runners.
“Cross country running, experts tell us it’s very good to develop strength,” says Dare who started the move to develop distance running in Nigeria last year.
“We have great potential to compete with east Africans and win awards for the country in continental and international championships and games. More importantly, we want to positively engage the distance runners in this country and make them have a good life from walking around the world like our east and north African counterparts,” the Minister said.
The coordinator of the project, Tony Osheku, said Dare will be remembered as the first sports minister in over four decades who has taken a positive and proactive interest in distance running and runners. He also explains why cross country is a necessary start for distance runners who want to succeed on the road or track.
“I was a strong part of the team assembled by the Minister of Sports last year to draft a plan on how to develop long distance running in Nigeria and I remember we had a camp for a few weeks in Jos for some of our elite distance runners,” said Osheku, a former Nigerian 1500m champion. and one of the best brains when it comes to distance running in Nigeria.
“I can’t remember a Minister of Sports showing Chief Dare’s interest and enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport. It’s amazing.”
Like the Minister of Sports, Osheku said training like cross-country runners or running in cross-country events will make athletes faster, stronger and more in tune with their bodies and mentally strong.
“In cross country you sometimes jump or run up a hill, and you are not sure if you will stumble. Or maybe you have taken a lot of mud in your shoes and feel as heavy as a rock. Either way, you are building enormous strength: Hills and the mud develops power and endurance in the calves, hamstrings, and quads. The uneven ground strengthens your legs and feet,” says Osheku.
The National Cross Country Championship is a 10km event and will be held at the Rhino Golf course in the beautiful city of Jos.