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.

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.

Longbap Retains Plateau FA Chairmanship Seat

Sunday Longbap has been re-elected as Chairman of the Plateau State Football Association.

At elections conducted in Jos, the capital of Plateau State on Thursday morning, and monitored by NFF Executive Committee member Sharif Rabiu Inuwa and Tunde Aderibigbe, secretary of the NFF State Elections Monitoring Committee, Longbap polled 18 out of the 19 votes cast, with one vote declared invalid.

Although he was unopposed, the incumbent still needed to satisfy the statutory requirement of two/third, which necessitated the casting of yes or no votes.

Elections are also holding in Kebbi, Rivers and Ogun States today, with the elections in Delta State now moved to Friday.