The 10km race which was ran yesterday in Okpekpe, Etsako-East Local Government Area of Edo State saw Kenya’s Moses Masai returning the time of 29m.39s to win the 25,000 dollars first prize. He was tailed by Timothy Troitich of Uganda with 29m.44s seconds while Yusuf Biwott of Kenya came third with 29m.50s.
Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor, completed the 10km race with a time of 59m.03s and came 131st.
In the Nigerian runners category, Lawrence Osheku finished first and won N100,000, Moses Edetanien was second, while Victor Yimlang was third. They won N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.
The second and third prize money of 20,000 and 10,000 dollars went to Ethiopians’ Deko Ahmed and Sofia Shemsu with a time of 34m.31s and 36m.11s respectively.
Deborah Pam from Plateau state was the first Nigerian in the female category and fifth overall with the time of 37m.34s, Janet Dung was the second and returned sixth overall with 38m.24s, Aminat Olowora came third and eight overall positions with 39m.05.s.
Due to the inequality in the prize money for the female category, the governor increased first position by 10,000 dollars, the second position was also increased by 5,000 dollars and third position 1,000 dollars.
Speaking at the historical event, Oshiomhole said the purpose of Okpekpe road race was to use sport to bring urban life to the rural people.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi who was present at the event and participated in the race said: “I must commend you for the sincere energy and commitment which you have demonstrated and also for the vision of this event. We will continue to cherish the connection you have brought between rural development and sports and that falls squarely within our mission for mass participation in sports. I will continue to argue that it is not all the time that the purpose of sports is for medals or for podium success or global excellence.”
The Comrade governor has promised to make the Okpekpe 10 km international road race an annual event. According to him, Okpekpe road race has not only uniting Africans, but has succeeded in connecting the urban people with the rural ones.
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