The Okpekpe international 10km road race is run over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and ending in Okpekpe town. The first edition was held in 2013 and it became a label road race in 2015.
Course Record:
Men: Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (28 minutes and 28 seconds set in 2023)
Women: Caroline Chepkoech KIPKIRUI 9Kazakhstan) (32 minutes and 38 seconds set in 2023)
It is the first road race in Nigeria to have its race course measured by a World Athletics certified Course measurer
It is the first road race in West Africa to be granted a label status (bronze in 2015) eight years after World Athletics started classification of road races.
A label status denotes ‘a full application of the Competition and Technical Rules in, at a minimum, the elite component of the competition.
Labels also denote superior standards in event organisation, safety and runner experience and a financial commitment to anti-doping.
There are 4 Label categories in 2024 viz: World Athletics Label, World Athletics Elite Label, World Athletics Gold Label and World Athletics Platinum Label.
Okpekpe road race attained its gold label status in 2023. It is the first World Athletics gold label 10km road race in Nigeria.
This is the only World Athletics label road race, irrespective of the category that will be held on Saturday May 25, 2024.
2024 OKPEKPE PRIZE MONEY
ELITE ATHLETES
Pos MEN (ELITE) WOMEN (ELITE)
1 15,000 US$ 15,000 US$
2 8,000 US$ 8,000 US$
3 5,000 US$ 5,000 US$
4 3,000 US$ 3,000 US$
5 2,000 US$ 2,000 US$
Bonus/Incentive
1 New course records 2,000 US$
2 African Record 5,000 US$
NIGERIAN ATHLETES
Po MEN WOMEN
1 N 500,000 N 500,000
2 N 300,000 N 300,000
3 N 200,000 N 200,000
4 N 120,000 N 120,000
5 N 80,000 N 80,000
ELITE ATHLETES
Men
Edward Zakayo PINGUA
Country: Kenya
DOB:25 NOV 2001
PB: 27:49 (January 2024)
SB: 27:49 (January 2024)
Honours: 2018 World U20 5000m Champion
1st 2019 Diamond League in Rabat (5000m)
Haftamu GEBRESILASE
Country: Ethiopia
DOB:25 MAR 2004
PB: 27:48 (June 2023)
SB: 1:06:13 in Half Marathon (March 2024)
Alex CHERONO
Country: Kenya
DOB:30 DEC 2000
PB: 28:52 (September 2018)
SB: 30:27 10km Cross Country (February 2024)
Taha ADEM
Country: Ethiopia
DOB:13 SEP 2003
PB: 28:39 (October 2023)
Adisu NEGASH
Country: Ethiopia
PB: 1:00:27 in Half Marathon (April 2024)
SB: 1:00:27 in Half Marathon (April 2024)
Isaac KIPKEMBOI
Country: Kenya
DOB: 10 FEB 2000
PB: 27:29 (Sept 2022)
SB: 1:01:10 in Half Marathon (February 2024)
Women
Gladys KWAMBOKA
Country: Kenya
DOB: 14 MAR 1996
PB: 31:54 (April 2024)
SB: 31:54 (April 2024)
Sheila CHEROTICH
Country: Kenya
DOB: 10 MAR 2003
PB: 32:46 (December 2020)
SB: ———–
NIGERIAN ELITES
…………….
Men
Isamel SADJO
DOB:28 AUG 1991
PB:31:53 (May 2023, Okpekpe)
SB:……………
Honours: Nine time Nigeria Champion
Shehu MUAZU
DOB:11 MAY 1988
PB:31:15 (May 2022, Okpekpe)
SB: 2:27:36 in full marathon (Feb 2024)
Honours: 2019 Nigeria 10,000m Champion
Francis JAMES
DOB:15 MAR 2007
PB:30:47 (February 2024, Lagos)
SB: 30:47 (February 2024, Lagos)
Stephen Joshua DALYOP
DOB:24 SEP 1997
PB:31:18 (February 2022, Lagos)
Emmanuel Gyang GWOM
DOB:13 AUG 1993
PB:31:03 (Nov 2021, Abeokuta)
SB: 31:50 (Feb 2024, Lagos)
Honours: Seven time Nigeria 5000m/10000m Champion
Women
Patience Daylop MWAVWANG
DOB:01 JAN 2003
PB:34:43 (Feb 2024, Lagos)
SB: 34:43 (Feb 2024, Lagos)
Honours: Defending Okpekpe 10km champion
Abiye DAVID
DOB:20 APR 1992
PB:36:06 (Feb 2024, Lagos)
SB:36:06 (Feb 2024, Lagos)
Honours: Seven time Nigeria 800m/1500m champion
Elizabeth NUHU
DOB:13 JUN 1996
PB:38:20 (May 2023, Okpekpe)
Blessing S. SOLOMON
PB:38:45.71 in 10,000m (June 2021)
Yilmunen NICHOLAS
Blessing S. SOLOMON
PB:38:42.74 in 10,000m (June 2022)
Vera MAISAJE
35:38 (Feb 2022, Lagos)
