Tag: Okpekpe Road Race

Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the Gold Label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race,  said Francis James’ first sub-31 minutes performance at this year’s edition showed  that  their investment in road running event is yielding the desired results.

James ran 30:46 last Saturday to win his first Okpekpe race men’s title after finishing ninth last year (32:24).

The 17-year -old has now ran inside 31 minutes for the second time this year after running 30:47 to win the 10km race of the Lagos international marathon in February.

Zak Amodu, Okpekpe road race director, believes Nigerian elite runners will soon break into the international elite level and eligible to compete worldwide.

 “One of the major reasons for starting the Okpekpe road race is to help develop road running culture in Nigeria and help our athletes to gain international recognition and eligibility.

 “This would be the first time a Nigerian man would run a sub-31 minutes in such a difficult terrain as the Okpekpe race and we may soon witness a Nigerian officially breaking the 30 minutes barrier,” said Amodu.

James’ time is the fastest by a Nigerian over the 10km distance so far this year and the second fastest since Ismail Sadjo ran 30:23 in Lagos in 2022.

Read Also: Barcelona appoint Flick as new boss

Two Nigerians have now raced inside 31 minutes this year (James Gang ran 30:51 in Lagos in February) and Stephen Nuhu, coach of many of the distance runners in Nigeria believes the athletes have finally come of age while praising organizers of the Okpekpe race for always prioritising the welfare of Nigerian elite athletes.

 “I am delighted the improvement we have been waiting for is finally manifesting and I am confident we will soon have our athletes running under 30 minutes and qualify to run as international elite athletes,” said Nuhu.

The Jos, Plateau State-based coach said  the country was  blessed with so much talent and wants the Federal Government to come to their aid by establishing a high performance centre at the Mambilla Plateau.

 “Look at Kenya today, athletics has not only become a sport for podium finishes at international competitions/championships and games but also a veritable source of employment which contributes greatly to their gross domestic product. This can be replicated in Nigeria and it can also be a great vehicle to fight banditry and terrorism,” added Nuhu.

Over a N100m will be on offer as prize money at the 10^th Okpekpe international 10km road race which holds on Saturday in Okpekpe town in Edo state.

The top five finishers in each gender category for the international elite field as well as for the Nigerian elite runners will battle for the prize money.

Winners in each gender category will go home with $15,000 while second and third place finishers will be rewarded with $8,000 and $5,000 with fourth and fifth going home with $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.

For the Nigerian elite athletes, a top prize of N500,000 will go to the winners of each gender category. Second to fifth place will be rewarded with N300,000, N200,000, N120,000 and N80, 000 respectively.

Athletes who set an African/World record will be eligible for a special award of US$5,000 and US$2,000 for the Okpekpe race course record setter.

Read Also: World Athletics confirms May 25 for 10th  Okpekpe Road Race

The performance must be an improvement on the existing African/World and Okpekpe Course record in 10km. Performances that equal the existing African/World and Course record will not be eligible for the bonus award.

The Okpekpe race 10km course record stands at 28 minutes and 28 seconds (28:28) for men set last year by Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and 32 minutes, 41 seconds (32.41) set in 2014 by Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew.

The African record for men which is also the world record is 26 minutes, 33 seconds (26:33) set by Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto in 2020 while another Kenyan, Agnes Jebet Ngetich holds the African nay World record for women at 28 minutes, 46 seconds (28:46) set in January 2024 in Valencia, Spain.

Meanwhile, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organizer of the historic race said  they were  ready to organize an Okpekpe road race that befits its Gold Label status with application of the World Athletics Rules and Regulations as well as  the Competition and Technical Rules among other requirements.

Race director, Zakari Amodu, promised that the event would live up to its billing as one of the prestigious road races in the world.

 “Everything is set for a good race on Saturday. We have covered all grounds necessary for a good race. We have all the materials we wanted for effective doping control including a doping station at the finish area in Okpekpe,” Amodu said. “What we are waiting for is just for the race day to be here so that we can put into practice all we have been doing in terms of keeping to the requirements.”