Tata Carine and Adamu Issa are 2023 Mt Cameroon Race of Hope Winners

By Boris Esono Nwenfor [caption id="attachment_104720" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Tata Carine is now the third most distinguish female athlete in the Race having now won it for the fifth time[/caption] BUEA, February 26 - Tata Carine, 25-year-old, and 32-year-old Adamu Issa Buba have been crowned champions of the 2023 edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope in the senior woman and men categories respectively. The race took place on Saturday, February 25, 2023, with this year being special, the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the race that started back in 1973. This year, Orange Cameroun stepped in to become the main sponsor of the Race. The telecommunications giant signed a two-year deal with the Cameroon Athletics Federation. But both organizations are looking at a long-term partnership, and the “successful” organizations of the race this year will only go to strengthen that bond. Tata Carine continues to dominate in the female category as this is her second successive title (in 5hrs, 13mins and 19secs), having won the 2022 edition. She was ahead of Kitan Mildred (5hrs, 23mins and 17secs) and Adamu Irine (5hrs, 31mins and 9secs). Interestingly, Kitan Mildred is the only woman at the moment that has gone toe-to-toe with Carine and emerged victorious. That was in 2021 when Mildred stopped Carine from picking up her fourth consecutive title. The victory for Tata Carine takes her to five titles (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023) and third on the list of most titles won in the female category, jointly with another great Ngwang Catherine. Carine who runs under FAP athletic club still has a bit of work to do to catch up with two women who are seen as the greatest in their category in Sarah Etonge and Ngwaya Yvonne, with both ladies having won the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope 7 times each. At just 25 years, Tata Carine is surely on course to become the most successful female athlete in the race and why not set her footprint as the greatest of all time? [caption id="attachment_104721" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Adamu Issa Buba (jersey number 110) won the race this year, he was third in 2022[/caption] "I am so happy for winning the race for the fifth time. This year, I went through a lot of difficulties. I didn't even know if I would participate in the race this year,” Tata Carine told journalists. “Two weeks into my training, I fell and got injured. I was discouraged, tired and praying that God should make it possible for me to pull through and emerge the winner with Orange Cameroun sponsorship. I am happy today I could emerge victorious." It was the second time lucky for Adamu Issa Buba, with the Ngoketundjia native picking up his first title in 4 hours, 40 minutes and 2 seconds. He was ahead of Amadou Abdou (4hrs, 40mins and 26sec) and last year’s champion Elvis Nsambila (4hrs, 40mins and 41secs). In 2022, Adamu Issa was third, but this time was different, as he powered his way to the finish line. "I am happy to win the race and having crossed the line I feel fine. When I was coming down I was around the sixth position around Hut One but I had to put in enough effort. By the time I reached the tar, God gave me some extra power which I used to dominate," Adamu Issa Buba said.