Kenyan nationals have continued to maintain their dominance in the 10 kilometres Okpekpe International Road Race as Simon Cheprot and his compatriot Njeru Pauline Wanjiku finished tops in the male and female categories touching the finishing line in 29.48 and 33.26 time period respectively.
The second and third positions in the male category of the Okpekpe race which has gained global reckoning went to Ismail Gallet of Tazania (29.80) and Timothy Toroitich of Uganda who finished up at 29.54 time periods.
Esther Ndiema, a Kenyan (33.35) and Buzunesh Guteda of Ethiopia (33.58) picked the second and third positions in the female category.
The winners of the elite race did not go home empty handed as the gold winners in both male and female categories got 15,000 dollars each while silver and Bronze medals winners pocketed 10,000 dollars and 7, 000 each.
Nigerian athletes who participated in the marathon race though over shadowed by their foreign counterparts still made a mark in the meet as most of them completed the 10 kilometres race and received their prizes.
Deborah Pam (Plateau State) who came first with 38.22 time in the female category went home with N250,000 leaving the second and third positions for Sarah Olamide and Elizabeth Nuru who got N100,000 and N80,000 respectively for their efforts.
In the male category, Adamu Shehu Muazu picked the first position at 32.39 time winning N250,000 while his two Plateau brothers Stephen Joshua (32.37) and Emmanuel Gyan (32.39) settled for the second and third positions earning for themselves N100,000 and N80,000 rewards respectively.
However, indigenous athletes from Okpekpe were not left out as James Iyere Raphael winner in the male category got N150,000 while the female winner Enodume Mary got the same amount of money for coming tops among the indigenous female runners.
Prizes for the indigenous runners component of the Okpekpe Road Race was sponsored by channels Television.
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has commended the initiators of the ideas that gave birth to the Okpekpe Road Race, sponsors and organizers including the international Athletes Federation (IAAF), Athletes Federation of Nigeria (AFN) ECO BANK, DAAR Communication etc for their efforts and commitment to making the Okpekpe Sports meet a huge success and urged them to sustain it.
He therefore urged the organizers of the exercise to improve on what is on ground perhaps by increasing the distance to be covered in subsequent editions to half or possibly a full marathon.
The Comrade Governor noted that there was no doubt that the international annual athletic event has boosted the local economies of Okpekpe, Auchi and environs and emphasised that the exercise has come to stay.
He however urged the administration that would come after his in the state to sustain it, insisting that the event has put Edo and Okpekpe on the global sporting map.
The Comrade Governor who said he was fulfilled after completing the 2016 km (VIP) Category road race reminded the people of the state of the Okpekpe road and other roads around seven years ago and before his administration came on board.
“Seven years ago we could not pass through this toad, but when we came, we decided to do what others could not do. And we believe the best way to deal with rural poverty is to integrate the rural community into the scheme of things, be close to them and provide them with the basic infrastructure thereby giving them a sense of belonging it is unfortunate the Sports Minister is not here to be a part of what is happening here under his jurisdiction. We should know that it is wrong for us to seat at the comfort of our offices and run commentaries on papers. I’m proud and fulfilled that we have been able to provide for our people. Nigeria is working again”. The Governor emphasized.
