The third edition of the annual Gicumbi Athletics Road Race, which is designed to detect new talents, is scheduled to take place this Sunday, organisers have revealed. Organised by Mountain Classic Athletics Club in Gicumbi District, the grueling race will see the senior runners covering a distance of 10 kilometres while juniors will race 8 kilometers. Johnson Rukundo, president of Mountain Classic Athletic club, explained that the objective of this year’s event is to detect new talent under the theme offighting the use of illegal substances and unwanted pregnancies among the youth. Rukundo also told this publication that all the athletics clubs in the country have been invited to take part in the one-day event, and will require no prior registration. Mountain Classic is an athletics team based in Gicumbi, Northern Province, and has groomed some of Rwanda’s top middle and long distance runners. Among others, US-based James Sugira, 20, rose to stardom through the club and went on to represent the country in several regional, continental and global championships. While on holidays in Rwanda, Italy-based Felicien Muhitira also trains with the club and is reported to have started his career with the Gicumbi-based side. The 24-year old retained the gold medal in the annual Sedan-Charleville Half Marathon in France last month, an event he also won last year on his maiden attempt. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
