Silver label status excites Okpekpe race organisers

Organisers of the annual Okpekpe international 10km road race are thrilled that their efforts at promoting road running in Nigeria have been recognised by the world governing body for athletics, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The sixth Okpekpe race is scheduled to hold on Saturday May 12, 2018 at Okpekpe in Edo State.

The Okpekpe race was granted a silver label status for next year’s event by the IAAF which makes it the first road race in Nigeria to be so rcognised and the first in West Africa as well as the second road race ever in Africa to enjoy a silver label status.

“We are truly delighted the IAAF has recognised our efforts to promote road running in Nigeria. Our mission is to ensure we get more Nigerians involved in road running so that we can restore that tradition that we had in the past when Abbas Mohammed a then truly world class 2:16 in the full marathon. We are happy a couple of road races have sprung up and one of them has actually been recognised as well by the IAAF. This is our greatest joy,” said Dare Esan, spokesman for the Okpekpe race.

Meanwhile, IAAF through Alessio Punzi, IAAF Road Running Manager in an email sent to the promoter of the race, Mike Itemuagbor, defended the new status of Okpekpe race.

“In recognition of the role played by your event for the promotion of elite road racing in your region, and of your efforts towards the improvement of the technical aspects of the event, the IAAF is happy to inform you that the Okpekpe road race 10km is upgraded to IAAF Silver Label status for 2018,” said Punzi in the email.