Okpekpe 10km Road Race set for May 27

Runners at the starting line during the 2022 Okpekpe road race

Okpekpe 10km Road Race set for May 27

Hassan Abdulsalam 10:45 - 31.03.2023

The road race promises to deliver another pacesetting event in 2023.

The Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have promised to host another record-breaking race as they unveiled the date.

The annual World Athletics Gold Label event returned last year after a two-year, COVID-19-induced break, and this year’s edition will be held on Saturday, May 27.

This first road running event in Nigeria will mark its ninth edition this year.

The road race promises to deliver another pacesetting event in 2023

The Okpekpe Road Race director, Zack Amodu says concerning the capacity building for Nigerians in and around Edo state that it began last year, this year's event will witness a significant improvement.

Road race in Nigeria
Runners at the Lagos city marathon

He added that Students in the mass communication and associated courses will work as media volunteers and as well physical education and health department and similar courses will also serve as volunteers in the race's technical department.

He said, “With the capacity, we have displayed over the years in terms of the technical organization of the race which in the first instance led to the label status we got in 2015, we decided to focus on developing more Nigerians outside those who actually do the running on the road.

“Last year we organized a technical officiating course for technical officials in Benin for those in and around Edo state to enhance the pool of technical officiating officials we have in the country.

“We also used medical students of the Edo state University in Uzairue to serve as volunteers in the medical committee for the race. This has given them the practical experience needed to become better in their chosen fields.

Road race in Nigeria

“This year we are extending this to the students of mass communication and related courses who will serve as media volunteers while those in the physical and health department and related courses will also serve as volunteers in the technical department of the race.

“This is outside the economic benefits that are derivable from the organisation of the race.

According to Amodu, the race's organizers are thrilled to consistently set the standard for road running competitions in Nigeria.

Athletes running at the Lagos city Marathon

“We are delighted to set the pace for road races in Nigeria and to become the first to have its course measured by a World Athletics certified measurer and the first to be granted a label status,” he said.

Pulse Sports reports that Ethiopians won 2022's edition of the race in both the men's and women’s categories.

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