As part of plans to develop long-distance race in Nigeria, Sports Minister Sunday Dare has revealed that 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.
He said the championship becomes necessary to enable Nigerian athletes develop their strength and make them better runners.
‘Cross country running, experts tell us is excellent for developing strenghth,’ 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,’ Dare said.
