Nigerian athletes missing in top 10 as Bahraini, Kenyan win 2019 Okpekpe Race

No Nigerian athlete made the top 10 spots in the 7th edition of the Okpekpe 10km Road Race which held near Auchi in Edo State on Saturday.

Bahrain’s Fikadu Dawit emerged winner of the men’s event of the IAAF silver label international race.

The Bahraini finished with a time of 28.48 minutes and was followed closely in second place by Ethiopia’s Berehanu Tsegu, who recorded a time of 28.49 minutes.

Kenya’s John Lotiang came third with a time of 29.02 minutes.

Leonard Barsoton finished sixth with a time of 29.22 while in seventh place was Malel Sitonik who recorded a time of 39.47.

In eight position was Joshua Naker (29.54), Mattew Samperu (29.57) and Erick Kiptoo completed the top ten with a time of (30.13).

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Shela Chelangat emerged winner with a time of 32.59 minutes.

She was followed by her compatriot, Tuitoek Jepchirchir, who came second with a time of 33.03 minutes, while Kasich Asefa from Ethiopia finished third with a time of 33.17.

The 8th edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race will take place in 2020, with the organizers expecting that the race will have been accorded a gold label status by IAAF.