Top Stars for Okpekpe Race to Jet in Today

Screening and accreditation of athletes, officials begin

Invited IAAF labeled athletes will start to arrive Nigeria today for the fifth Okpekpe International 10km Road Race scheduled to hold on Saturday in Okpekpe, Edo State.

The athletes will come in through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and will be transported to Auchi where accommodation has been reserved for them.

“The athletes, together with their Nigerian counterparts will go on tour of the course on Friday in line with IAAF requirements.”

Some of the top athletes expected to jet in today are men’s defending champion, Simon Cheprot of Kenya, who has vowed to set a new course record on the way to successfully defending his title; compatriots Edwin Nyandusi Mokua, Wilson Kiprono Too, Emmanuel Kiprono Kipsang as well as Ethiopian trio of Dawit Fikadu Admasu,Fikadu Haftu and Leul Gebresilasie.

Also expected to arrive today is Tanzania’s Ismail Juma, Turkey’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen and Thierry Ndikuwenayo of Burundi.

They are all among the elite athletes from eight countries that will participate in Saturday’s race.

Meanwhile, final registration of athletes for Saturday’s race begins today in Auchi.