The World Athletics has confirmed Saturday, May 25th for the 10th edition of the Okpekpe International 10km road race.
The Okpekpe road race is the first gold-level 10km road race that will take place in the world in 2024.
The race which has attracted athletes from all over the world to Edo State since 2013, will also serve as a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Director of the Okpekpe Road Race, Zack Amodu hinted their compliance to rules of the World Athletics has made the annual middle-distance race stand-out.
Zack said: “Since the race made history as the first Nigerian nay West African road running event to be recognized by World Athletics and granted a bronze label status in 2015, it has continued to wax stronger and have grown to a gold level status. This is down to our ability to play by World Athletics rules.
“The support we have received from the Okpekpe town and its environs, the people and government of Edo state, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and of course our sponsors have been invaluable.
“Through our sponsors we have been able to make Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general a destination of sort for Sports.
“On May 25, the attention of the whole sporting world will be on Nigeria when the race is held. It is the only gold-level road race that will be held in the whole world that day which means there will be no divided attention.”
Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo and Kazakhstan’s Caroline Chepkoech emerged winners of the 2023 edition.
