Organisers of the annual Okpekpe 10km road race have earmarked over 100 million naira for winners of this year’s edition that will take place on Saturday, May 25.
In a press briefing released on Wednesday, organisers assured of a world class race to further boost Okpekpe’s ranking as the only gold label 10km Road race in West Africa.
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 ₦500,000 will go to the winners of each gender category. Second to fifth place will be rewarded with ₦300,000, ₦200,000, ₦120,000 and ₦80,000 respectively.
Athletes who set an African/World record will be eligible for a special award of $5,000 and $2,000 for the Okpekpe race course record setter.
The performance must be an improvement on the existing African/World and Okpekpe Course record in 10km while 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) for women 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/World record for women at 28 minutes, 46 seconds (28:46) set in January 2024 in Valencia, Spain.
Earlier this week, organisers of the Okpekpe 10km road race unveiled commemorative medals to mark the 10th edition of the annual competition that started in 2013.
