After several unsuccessful attempts, he finally won the race at the age of 40.
The harder the battle the sweeter the victory, says the adage. After several unsuccessful attempts in the past, Simplice Ndungeh on Saturday February 27th finally won the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope. Though considered an outsider before the competition, the native of Lebialem is no new comer to the race.
He began competing in 2009 and would have made the trial strike a master’s stride had he not fallen on his way back from the mountain. He was the first to the summit and despite falling on his way back, emerged third in the 2009 edition of the race. He came close to winning the race in 2010 and 2012 when he emerged second respectively. He withdrew from the spot light since then and only emerged out of the blues to win the 2016 edition of the race.
He however sent the warning signal by winning the test race in Buea which served as a qualification race for the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope. Ndungeh Simplice says he is happy to have finally realized his dream of winning the race especially as did so at an advanced age of 40. “I am happy to be able to still be running at the age of 40 with my younger brothers and winning,” he said after his victory. Despite his advanced age, Simplice hopes to continue running and is pleading on sports authorities to enable him defend the national colours in international competitions.
