Nigeria aims to develop world-class long distance runners with first cross country championship

Nigeria is hoping to develop a cross country running culture like Kenya with its maiden National Cross Country Championship in Jos, Plateau State. Photo: AFP

As part of his long term plans to develop long distance running in Nigeria to world class standard, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, says the first national cross country championship to be organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will hold on February 18 in Jos, the capital of Plateau state.

The championship, according to the Sports Minister becomes necessary to enable the athletes to develop their strength and make them better runners.

“Cross country running, experts tell us is excellent for developing strength,” says Dare who began the move to develop distance running in Nigeria last year.

“We have enormous potentials to rival the east Africans and win laurels for the country at continental and international championships and games. More importantly, we want to positively engage the mass of distance runners in this country and make them earn good living from running around the world like their east and north African counterparts,” said the Minister.

Project coordinator, Tony Osheku, says Dare will be remembered as the first sports minister in over four decades who has taken positive and proactive interest in long 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 the track.

“I was a strong part of the team the Sports Minister assembled last year to map out plans 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