Obudu Mountain Race
The Governor of Cross River State and the chief host of the Obudu International Mountain Race, Liyel Imoke, and the President of the World Mountain Running Association, Danny Hill, said the race could become the African championship as early as next year.
Ethiopia's Abebe Dinkesa and Austria's Andrea Mayr both set new course records as they won the men's and women's events of the main race on Saturday. 
Dinkesa won in 41 minutes, 45 seconds, while Mayr beat stronger looking rivals to win in 51 minutes, 14 seconds.
Imoke spoke with journalists at the Obudu Cattle Ranch after presenting prizes to the winners of some of the races on Saturday.
He said, "I'm very happy that we have had another successful outing. This year's race was better organised than what we had last year and we want to continue to improve.
"Our objective is to make the event the best organised international race in Africa and we're getting there. We have been able to attract many world-class athletes in mountain racing, including the world champion, and we're expecting more next year.
"The next step for us is making the Obudu Mountain Race serve as the African Mountain Racing Championship, where an African
champion will emerge. International athletes from outside the continent will still, however, continue to participate.
"There will be one main race as usual but the best placed African will become the continent's champion. The race is still open to runners from all over the world. While the Africans will run as their countries' representatives, the others will participate as individuals."
Hill said the proposal to make the race an African championship had been sent to the African Athletic Confederation and the International Association of Athletics Federations for approval.
He said, "Once we get these approvals we'll begin preparations. I'm confident these ruling bodies can see our vision and they will let us go ahead with our plans."