Anna, Afra, Sameera clinch girls cross-country honours
The inaugural Oman Girls Crosscountry Championship, organised by Excellence Performance in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports Affairs and various sponsors, attracted a total of 310 participants — 140 in the 4km main race and the rest in the fun race
MUSCAT: Anna Christie from the U.S. won the top honours while two Omani girls — Afrah Ali Al Ajmi and Sameera Hilal Al Harasi — also found a place on the podium as Performance Excellence successfully organised the inaugural Oman Girls Cross-country Championship in Al Musannah on Saturday.
The championship, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports Affairs and various sponsors, attracted a total of 310 par- ticipants - 140 in the 4km main race and the rest in the fun race - of different nationalities, including Indian, Egyptian and American besides the local Omani girls.
In the main event, Anna Christie clocked twenty-one minute and five seconds (21:05) to win the gold medal and a cash prize of OMR. 300. Omani girls Afrah and Sameera gave a good challenge to Anna but failed to catch up with the latter and had to settle for the second and third place respectively. Afrah timed 22:32.13 while Sameera clocked 22:55.12.
Excellence Performance Executive Director Rashid Ibrahim Al Kindi and Saada Salim Al Ismaily, Director of Women’s Sports at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, handed over the medals and cash prizes.
The organisers distributed a total of OMR. 1,000 among the top ten finishers in the main race. While the winner received the gold medal and OMR. 300, the second placed athlete was presented with a silver medal and OMR. 200.
The third to 10th place finishers received 150, 100, 50, 30, 20, 20, 20, and 10 respectively as well as a bronze medal each.
In the fun race, the organisers presented gold medals all those who finished the race.
Excellence Performance Executive Director Rashid Ibrahim Al Kindi, meanwhile, thanked the Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Athletic Association for supporting the event.
He also thanked Al Musannah scouts, Oman Women’s Sports Committee and Oman Olympic Committee as well as sponsors Oman LNG, Coca Cola (Arwa Water), Muscat Pharmacy (Pocari Sweat) and hosting partner Millennium Resort Al Musannah.
“Without the support of all these organisations and the sponsors it would not have been possible to organise a successful event,” he said.
Speaking about the participants reaction to the first ever Oman Girls Cross-country Championship, he said: “They all liked the challenge and the opportunity to compete in such an event. Most importantly they all enjoyed the competition.”
“They are so impressed with the atmosphere and the competition, most of them said they are looking forward for the next such championship,” he added. Excellent Performance’s next event is Oman Roller Skating Championship which is scheduled to be held on November 28 in Muscat.
4km race results (top 10): 1. Anna Christie (USA) 21:05; 2. Afrah Ali Al Ajmi (OMA) 22:32.53; 3. Sameera Hilal Al Harasi (OMA) 22:55.12; 4. Maryam Mabrook Al Rashdi (OMA) 23:07.98; 5. Aya Gaber (EGY) 23:29.48; 6. Nawaar Said Al Ghilani (OMA) 24:02.87; 7. Maryam Salim Al Shibli (OMA) 24:03.51; 8. Maryam Salim (OMA) 24:03.92; 9. Sanaa Saleem Al Busaidi (OMA) 24:19.63; 10. Sona Kunjumon (IND) 24:26.93.