10th Okpekpe Road Race: Bumper Financial Reward Awaits Athletes Who Break Course, African Record

With just 14 days to the 10th edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race in Okpekpe, Edo State, organizers of the historic race say athletes who break the Course and African/World records at the event will receive bonus awards of $2,000 and $5,000 respectively in addition to the race awards of between $15,000 and $2,000 for the first five finishers respectively.

The top winners at the Okpekpe race, men and women, can make a total of $22,000 each if they break the official course and African (World) records (subject to ratification under World Athletics rules). This will be made up of the prize money of $15,000 and $2,000 for breaking the course record and $5,000 for breaking the African/World record.

The Okpekpe race 10km course record stands at 28 minutes and 28 seconds (28:28) for men set last year by Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and 32 minutes, 41 seconds (32.41) set in 2014 by Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew.

The African record for men which is also the world record is 26 minutes, 33 seconds (26:33) set by Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto in 2020 while another Kenyan, Agnes Jebet Ngetich holds the African nay World record for women at 28 minutes, 46 seconds (28:46) set in January 2024 in Valencia, Spain.

Zack Amodu, the Okpekpe international 10km road race director reveals why the performance bonus has been introduced to this year’s race.

‘This year, we have the $2,000 and $5,000 performance bonus to be earned by any man or woman who breaks the course record and African/World record respectively. Last year, we saw how Daniel Ebenyo moved very close to running a sub-28 minutes on his way to setting the 28:28 course record.

“We are motivating the athletes to run a little faster with the introduction of the performance bonus as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the most prestigious and first World Athletics label road race in West Africa,” said Amodu who is optimistic new course records will be set in the men and women’s categories.

‘With the quality of athletes that we have signed on and those who have signified interest in the race, I am sure a new course record will be set.’

Amodu says this year’s edition will be used to celebrate Pamodzi Sports Marketing’s 10 years of organising an event that World Athletics, the world governing body for the sport of athletics has recognised as a truly world class race and which it did not hesitate to classify as such with the award of a bronze label status in 2015.

‘As a recognition of the technical and administrative capabilities officials of Pamodzi have been displaying, the race was upgraded to a silver label status in 2018 and gold in 2023. We have proved that Nigerians are capable of organizing world class events,’ said a delighted Amodu who has been at the heart of delivering a truly world class race.

The Okpekpe international 10km road race is an annual event held in Edo State, Nigeria. It’s a challenging 10km road race that takes place over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and ending in Okpekpe town.

The race has attracted participants from various countries, including Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Morocco, Israel, Bahrain, and Nigeria.