Sarah Etonge: “Queen of the Mountain” Reflects on Her Legendary Career

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – When it comes to the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, few names command as much respect and admiration as Sarah Liengu Etonge. Dubbed the "Queen of the Mountain," the seven-time champion remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of the gruelling 38-kilometer race, which sees athletes battle steep volcanic terrain, unpredictable weather, and exhaustion.

With the 30th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope taking place on Saturday, February 22, Serah Etonge reflects on the journey that brought her to greatness and why she remains a force to be reckoned with, even at the age of 61.

A Mother, A Widow, A Champion

Sarah Etonge’s story is one of resilience and determination. She first entered the race as a young mother of seven children, having lost her husband. It was a close friend, Esuka Reginald, who first encouraged her to try professional running after noticing her natural ability during casual morning jogs.

“I never thought about competing at first,” Etonge recalls. “But when I saw others doing it, I decided to give it a try. I had already given birth to my seven children, and one had passed away. I knew I had to work hard to provide for my family. I was both a mother and a father.”

Her first victory changed everything. Not only did it cement her as a serious competitor, but it also provided her with financial relief.
“When I won my first race, the prize money was 500,000 FCFA,” she said. “It was a huge amount at the time, and it helped me take care of my children, pay their school fees, and provide for the family. That’s when I knew running was going to change my life.”

A Historic Reign

After her first win, Etonge didn’t stop. Between 1996 and 1999, she won four consecutive titles, making her the only participant, male or female to be crowned “Queen of the Mountain”

“Winning four times in a row was special,” she says. “The prize money wasn’t much, but the support from the people meant everything to me. The crowd in Buea cheered for me, and that was worth more than any amount.”

Despite her dominance, she faced challenges. She remembers moments when the race became tougher, but she pushed through. “I won for seven years, but if you put together all my winnings, they did not even amount to seven million FCFA. But I was happy because that money helped my family. I used it to send my children to school and provide for their needs.”

Passing the Torch

In 2014, Serah Etonge finished in seventh place and decided to step back to focus on her family. She dedicated herself to training the next generation of runners, including her son.

“I have never seen a Bakweri girl win the race, even though this mountain is in Buea, the land of the Bakweri people," she explains. "So, I started training a girl from Bamenda. She stayed with me for five months, and in her first race, she finished second. But she left afterwards."

Her son, now an army officer, also took up the challenge.“When he came to Buea, I trained him myself,” she says proudly. “He finished in third place twice. I told him that he needed to train harder if he wanted to move up. The third time, I encouraged him to push more, and he improved.”

A Veteran Still Going Strong

Despite stepping back from competition, Etonge has remained active in the running scene, competing in races across Cameroon, including Yaoundé, Edéa, and Dschang. She has consistently proven that age is just a number.

“No woman has been able to beat me in those races,” she says with a smile. “I even scare the younger ones. If I can still run a marathon and finish seventh overall, it means God has given me great strength.”

For the 2025 edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, Etonge has a renewed sense of purpose. After winning the test race in the veteran category, she is confident of a strong performance on February 22.

“I am very proud to be a veteran runner,” she says. “Despite being born in 1964, I still feel strong. This is the will of God. I know I will make it this year.”