Nuwakot, April 1

Tribhuvan Army Club’s Hem Lam Shrestha won the Jhiltung National-level Cross Country Race Championship here in Kolputar today.

The TAC athlete Shrestha completed 13.4km course in 54 minutes to win the men’s section title. Nepal APF Club’s Laxman Malla Thakuri came home 18 seconds later to finish second, while another Armyman Tikaram Katwal came third with a timing of 55 minutes and 16 seconds.

In the women’s section, Dhading’s Santoshi Shrestha clocked one hour, nine minutes and 59 seconds to bag the first position. APF’s Pushpa Bhandari took one hour and 10 minutes to finish second, while TAC’s Reshu Basnet came third in one hour, 11 minutes and six seconds. Top three athletes in both categories received Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,000, while fourth to sixth position holders earned Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.

In school section, Bijay Shrestha of Nuwakot and Kathmandu’s Jagat Nepali and Prabin Koirala claimed top three positions respectively in boys’ category, while Lalitpur’s Kajol Shrestha, Rising Academy’s Laxmi Thapa and Rashmita Nepal of Mahadev HS School of Nuwakot came first, second and third respectively in girls’ section.  Top three finishers in both categories earned Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.

Mahadev Higher Secondary School had organised the championship that started from Kolputar and went through various places including Bellini, Rajtar and Majhgaun. Legendary marathon runner Baukuntha Manandhar and Kanchhi Maya Koju were among the stars who took part in the event to motivate other athletes.