Okpekpe Road Race Organisers Announce Nigerian Winners

The organisers of the Okpekpe Road Race have announced Nigerian winners and predicted a bright future for long distance runners in the country.

According to the list made available by the organisers, in the men’s category, Emmanuel Gyang from Plateau State finished first and 17th overall. Gideon Goyet also from Plateau finished second and 18th overall, William Kefas from Plateau ended third and 21 overall.

Okpekpe Road Race photo credit Okpekpe Road Race page

In fourth place is Osheku Lawrence of Edo State, who also finished 22nd overall, Joshua Hassan from Plateau finished fifth and 24th overall, Dapreng Luka finished 6th and 25th overall, Ugochukwu Chukwumadu from Abia finished 7th and 26th overall while Robert Okam from Abia came 8th and 27th overall.

In the women’s category, Doborah Pam finished first and 11th overall, Ogunkoya Muibat of Lagos finished 2nd and 14th overall, Asedo Queensly of Edo State ended 3rd and 15th overall, while Ann Seriki from Lagos State finished 4th and 16th overall.

In 5th place is Mary Raphael of Niger, who also finished 17th overall, Amalawa of Edo State finished 6th and 19th overall, Lawani Ruby finished 7th and 20th overall, while Peace Ikerebe also of Edo State finished 8th and 21st overall.

Okpekpe Road Race, photo credit Okpekpe Road Race page

Meanwhile, Technical Director of the Race, Yussuf Alli has predicted a bright future for Nigeria’s long distance runners if they continue to perform the way they did at the just concluded race in Edo State.

Alli, a former long jumper, stated that the result also showed that Nigeria and Edo State were improving in road races. He said the Nigerian athletes who did well at the just concluded Okpekpe Road Race would be handed over to the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) for better development and improvement, as well as expose them to better coaching.

3rd Okpekpe IAAF Road Race: Okaeben Named Events Director

Former Edo State Sports Commissioner, Chris Okaeben has been named the Events Director of the 3rd IAAF Okpekpe Road Race, while Stella Nwala serves as the secretary of Secretariat.

Okaeben who was newly elected into the Edo state house of Assembly will also coordinate all the activities of the race in the state as well as interface between the state government and the organisers of the race.

The Director of Organisation, Zack Amodu stated that the Organising Committee intends to take the third edition to a higher level because the race has been accorded a bronze label recognition by IAAF.

Meanwhile, the organisers have also decided to move the secretariat of the Race from Benin to Auchi after a world press conference on May 12.

Amodu, however, advised all the coordinators of various departments of the race to intensify efforts to ensure that Edo State delivers a world class event.

Athletes who have not registered for the race have also been advised to pick free entry forms at various designated centres in Benin, Auchi and Okpekpe from May 5.

Tight Security For Okpekpe Road Race

The organizers of the Okpekpe Road Race have finalized plans to put in place top-notch security when the events holds on May the 16th in Okpekpe, Edo State.

Technical Director of the race, Yusuf Alli yesterday said that the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has been contacted, while Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Security Consultant, ASP Gideon Akinsola (rtd) will also be on ground to ensure the race is hitch-free.

“For a race of that magnitude, which is of international standard, everything has to be put right and that includes security. We have contacted the IG to ensure policemen are on hand to provide security for the runners and spectators before, during and after the race,” Alli added.

photo credit Nigeria police academy org

He also assured that there would be few vehicles on the race track with motorcyclists banned from joining the race. He also said that the Governor Oshiomohle convoy would be made up of two cars to ensure that the runners get the space to exhibit their talent.

Alli also stated that a doping area would be set up in accordance with international practice, where athletes blood samples would be collected for test. He also noted that a VIP area would be set up, where dignitaries can have refreshment before and after the race.

Abebe Dimkesa Eyes Okpekpe Road Race Glory

Ethiopia’s Abebe Dimkesa has expressed interest in participating in the 10km Okpekpe International Road Race slated for May 16 in Etsako-East area of Edo State.

Dimkesa who spoke with our Reporter on Friday, stated that he intends to contact the organisers of the annual race for more information, as he was hearing about the race for the first time despite the fact that the race was already in its third edition.

The marathoner, who is well known for his exploits and regular participation at the annual Obudu International Mountain Race, has carted home the cash prizes ranging from fifty thousand dollars and more at the Obudu International Mountain Race in Calabar.

Dimkesa is, however, in top form for any race as he is also preparing for the Saudi Arabia half-marathon slated for April 21.

Meanwhile, this year’s Okpekpe race cash prizes range from $25,000(1st Prize Winner), $15,000(2nd Prize Winner) and $10,000 (3rd Prize Winner) for those in the male category just as female athletes participating at the 3rd edition would also cart home cash prizes ranging from $15,000(1st Prize),$ 10,000(2nd Prize) and $8,000(3rd Prize).

Edo State indigenes would also benefit from special cash prizes earmarked for them. The 1st Edo indigene to breast the tape would go home with a cash prize of N100, 000 in the male category, while the first female settles for seventy-five thousand naira.

The first runner up will get N75, 000 in the male category, while in the female category; the winner gets N50, 000. The 3rd placed winner will settle for N50, 000 and N25, 000 respectively.

Okpekpe 2015: Pam Gears Up With Splash FM Integrity Race title…As Alli advocates For More Indigene Participation

Nigeria’s leading marathoner, Deborah Pam, has sent a strong warning signal to her competitors at the 2015 edition of the Okpekpe Road Race with an excellent performance at the seventh edition of the Ibadan 42 km marathon tagged ‘Splash FM Integrity Race’ that was held last weekend.

The Plateau state-born athlete who emerged the best Nigerian woman during the last two editions of Okpekpe race won the Ibadan marathon in a record time of 3hrs, 3mins and 23secs.

Pam said after her victory in Ibadan that she had come of age and hopefully she would emerge the overall winner at this year edition of the Okpekpe race in May.

Splash FM Marathon 2014, photo credit splashfm1055.com

“I have been consistent at the competition for the past two years, but I don’t want to settle for less again,” she said.

“I want to become the first Nigerian athlete to win the competition and I will be going back home to intensify preparation for the competition.

“I would have started early but school activities have been affecting my preparation, but with this victory in Ibadan, I can move on from here.”

Meanwhile, the coordinator of the race, Yusuf Alli, has urged the indigenes of Okpekpe community to actively take part in the tournament.

“We want more indigenes of the state to be actively involved in the race, we are really looking forward to the locals winning something and hopefully represent Nigeria at the Olympics,” the former Nigeria international said.

Okpekpe Road Race Has Increased Businesses, Says Council Secretary…

Okpekpe Road Race has increased businesses, says council secretary…various sports groups are springing

The Secretary to Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Benedicta Attoh yesterday said that the Okpekpe 10 Kilometer Road Race, which commenced in 2013 has increased local and small businesses in the community and its environs.

In a text message, she noted that the tournament has placed Okpekpe on the global map. The secretary added that the tournament has culminated in the establishment of various sports groups.

Her words: “The 10 kilometer road race has impacted positively on the lives of the citizens and the community at large in so many ways. Firstly, it has increased local and small businesses in the catchment area especially during the event thereby boosting the local economy.

“It has also placed the community on the world map. Thirdly, it has raised an awareness of sports among the local people and Nigerians as a whole . Within the Okpekpe community, various sports groups are springing up as a result of the road race. ”

A retiree in Okpekpe, Jacob Egwame maintained that the event has not only brought the community to a limelight, it has also created an avenue for petty traders to make brisk business.

He said that to the people, that the impact has been an awareness that such an important international event takes place “in their once forgotten and neglected area to which they now look forward annually for its staging.”

Another indigene of Okpekpe, Barrister Timothy Itere said that the tournament has brought Okpekpe Community into international limelight, impacting positively in the socio-economic activities of the community.

Nesiama Give Kudos To Okpekpe Organisers

The Technical Director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, has poured encomiums on the organisers of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race.

Speaking with Journalists recently, Nesiama said for the organisers to have been consistent for the past three years, shows that they know what they were doing.

“We need to encourage our marathoners and that was the reason why we have been involving them in our programs,” Nesiama said.

“I am using this opportunity to give kudos to the organisers of the Okpekpe Road Race. They have been giving their all to organise a befitting meet for the past three years and I am happy for their efforts.”

Speaking further, he said so many organisations have been coming to the federation to organise such international meets like the Okpekpe Road Race, but they have failed to meet up with the requirements.

The Naval officer said: “Lot of organisers want to come around and have competitions, but most of them cannot meet up with the requirements needed.

“We have had issues in the past where promoters held meets and they were unable to pay the athletes even the foreign athletes and the federation was sanctioned for it.

“There was a time IAAF almost sanctioned AFN because of issues like this, but we never experienced that with the Okpekpe meet.”

He however declared that the federation will continue to give support to the organisers and any organisation that wants to organise a good meet.

Nigeria Athletes Prepare For Okpekpe

Nigeria athletes hoping to be part of the third edition of the annual Okpekpe Road Race will have cause to smile as the organiser of the 10km Okpekpe Road Race have assured them of having some local races to prepare them for the competition.

Making this declaration was the coordinator of the event, Yusuf Alli, who said that some states have agreed to organise local racesv to help the Nigerian athletes.

Alli said two states have been comfirmed to host road races before the Okpekpe competition in May.

“There is need to prepare our athletes well ahead of the competition so that they
can compete favourably with their counterpart from other part of the world,” he
said.

“We are looking forward to a Nigerian winning the race instead of the foreigner that have been winning it from inception.

“The target is to have a Nigerian finishing within the top five starting from this year. That is why we are going to be having some road races prior to the competition in May.

“We have Akwa Ibom already looking forward to having a road race between now and May, we will be having another one in Port Harcourt. Those are the ones I can confirm now.”

Alli also revealed that the level of preparedness for the competition, stating that the prototype for the start and finishing line is ready.

The former long jumper said: “We already have the prototype of how the start line map and the finishing line will look like. Like I said before our ambition is to get the Gold Label, and we need to get the Silver Label first and we can only achieve that if we have a successful competition.

“We have contacted an expert in road race from Germany, Walter Mayer, to come and advice us more on the way forward. The target is for him to come and look at the place and advice us on how we can improve on what we have on ground currently.”

Okpekpe Road Race Gets IAAF Bronze Label

The World Athletics Governing body, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has conferred the IAAF bronze label status on the Okpkekpe 10km Road Race, which holds annually in Edo State, Nigeria.

In a release sent by IAAF, the body commended the organisers for staging a hitch free tournament in the last two years while, urging them to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the new status.

The release stated:”We have reviewed your application for an IAAF Road Race Label. We are pleased to inform you that your race has been awarded a Bronze Label for 2015. We remind you that all requirements included in the Road Race Label Regulations must be met in order to be considered for an IAAF Label the following year.”

The maiden edition of Okpekpe International Road Race was organised by the Edo State, government under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in 2013.

Since inception, more than 200 top athletes across the globe have been part of the race, while Moses Massai of Kenya won the maiden edition with a time of 29mins, 39 seconds.

the competition has received the backing of dignitaries across the country, as they take active part in the race by running alongside Governor Oshiomole in the 10km race.