Sports with Phillip Braide
The Okpekpe race is back after two year absence. No thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic that caused disruptions which led to the postpone of the event in 2020 and 2021 because of health concerns.
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race is the first road running event to have its race course measured by a World Athletics certified measurer. The Edo state government's plan as host is to become the first elite platinum race in Africa.
To the credit of the organizers the event was granted a bronze label status in 2015 and upgraded to a silver label status in 2017 before the reclassification of the labels by World Athletics in 2021. The race was then given an elite label status, the next step before an elite platinum label.
Two Ethiopians, Jasim Haji and Dessie Adchiniau emerged winners in the male and female categories of the 2022 Okpekpe 10km International Road Race. This shall be the third time in eight editions that the Ethiopians will upstage the Kenyans to dominate the race.
Haji finished in 29.05mins to claim first place, while Kenyan Elvis Cheboi (29.20mins) came second, ahead of Ethiopian Derekek Mego (29.30 mins), who ended in third place.
In the female category, Adchiniau ran 33.09mins to pick the top prize, with another Ethiopian Dorcas Kimeli (33.33mins) in second place, while Kenyan Abigael Jelimo (33.53mins) finished the race in third place.
In the local athletes category comprised of budding Nigerian talents, Ismail Sanjo emerged winner in the male category with a time of 31.12mins, while Rose Atuche claimed the female top prize in 36.40mins.
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