Yazı: Melih Uslu

Prairie Of The Champions

The champions of the High School Athletics Championship, which was held in Slovakia, came out of Anatolia – both girls and boys. The students of the Institution of Competition High School managed to win first place in cross-country and introduced Muş to the world.

They are the pride of Turkey. They are the silent champions of Anatolia. They are the athletes of the Muş Institution of Competition High School Athletics Team. They won first place through a double championship in the High School Athletics Championship held in Slovakia. They managed to prepare for the championship despite fewer opportunities and facilities by believing in themselves as a team. They worked with great discipline and signed off on a success that brought excitement to Turkey and shocked the world.

The greatest support for the young people who prepared for the championship in the peerless beauty of Muş’s prairies came from the school administration. While the school’s headmaster Mehmet Zakir Adanır expressed that there was a great interest in athletics at the school and that  the competitive environment they created had reflected on the students’ success, Aydın Koçlardan – one of the coaches who has been training the champions together with Murat Karataş – explained that they have used the advantage of training in the high altitude of Muş very well, and suggested that all athletes to do the same.

NEXT TARGET: THE OLYMPICS
News of the championship of the boys’ team arrived first during the championships held in Slovakia, which saw the participation of athletes from 22 countries.We got into contact with Nuri Kömür, who was second word-wide in cross country, to congratulate him.
Kömür, who has competed with his team on a five-thousand meter grass course, excitedly explains: “Our boys’ team won the championship in 2008 as well. We place our targets very high as a school. We participated in the championships in Slovakia with six girls, six boys and two coaches. We aim to become the champions again in World Mountain Cross Championship to be held in Antalya this June. We also want to gain championship in the High Schools Athetics Competition which will be held in Malta in 2012.

The girls’ team, which was formed only a short time ago, surprised everyone when it won the world championship. Next, we meet Emine Hatun, who took third place in the world championship. She explains to us that although she is only 14, she has been involved in sports for nearly five years. Emine, who says that her aim is to win a medal in the Olympics as well, expressed with confidence and enthusiasm: “We had a very tough training program. We worked and had fun at the same time. We supported each other as a team. By the day of the competition, we knew that we were going to be successful. We ran 3,400 meters and became the champions.”

If you go to Muş
Muş, which hit the headlines because of the World Cross Championship, is a city worth visiting with its unexplored beauties. Here are some suggestions for those who will be going to Muş: Don’t leave before visiting Muş Castle Park, Esenlik Mosque, Ulu Mosque, Yıldızlı, Murat Pasha Bridge, Çengili Church, Arak Monastery; before tasting Muş Köfte (meat balls), stuffed cabbage, çorti aşı and keşkek, among the local delights; before buying local handiworks, such as embroideries, lace, beadworks, carpets, rugs and blankets.