International athletes to arrive from May 14

The coordinator of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race, Yusuf Alli, has revealed that some of the international athletes will be arriving the community from May 14 ahead of the race scheduled for May 16.

Speaking with our correspondent, Alli said all the athletes pencilled down for the race have confirmed their participation and will be coming in from May 14.

“We are going to intensify preparation immediately after the national election and I can confirm to you that the international athletes will be arriving from May 14,” he said.

“Because of our plan for the race, we have contacted some top long distance runners across the continent while some others have also signified their interest.”

On the performance of some of the country’s athletes at the Splash FM Integrity Race in Ibadan, the 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said it was a welcome development.

He said: “The idea is to have enough major races before the competition so that our athletes can be in top shape for the race.”

He however said the target of the organiser, Padmodzi was to see in the nearest future a citizen of the Okpekpe community representing Nigeria at the Olympics in long distance race.

“The plan for us in Padmozi is that in future somebody from Okpekpe community will compete in the Olympic Game for Nigeria.

“We have athletes from Edo State at the Olympics and the neighbouring states, but we want someone from the town itself to represent Nigeria in long distance race at the Olympics,” Alli added.