2015 Okpekpe 10km International Race men’s champion, Alex Korio will have to contend with his Kenyan compatriot Simon Cheprot as he targets making history today as the first road runner to win two editions.
Cheprot won the lottery 2016 edition here in Okpekpe and may as well have his eyes on history too.
In the women’s category, 2016 champion, Polline Wanjiku may also not be far from history as the Kenyan road runner could well go into history books as the first lady to record two Okpekpe titles since inception in 2013.
Today, no less than 35 internationally acclaimed road runners are in town for this IAAF silver label race whose organisers are aiming to climb up to become the second gold label in Africa. The only gold label race in the continent at the moment is the one in Cape Town, South Africa.
Meanwhile, organizers of the Okpekpe race have disqualified an eight-year old Edo girl, Lorelay Holzendorff aspiring to compete as the youngest runner in the history of the competition.
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They insisted that medically, Holzendorfff is too young to run in the energy sapping 10km Race.
But Edo State marathon coach, Osagie Ohamu, disputed the claim, insisting that the young girl has competed in three other similar races including the Access Lagos City Marathon.
Born by a Nigerian mother to a German father in Benin City, Edo State, Lorelay Holzendorff competed and won medals in athletics and other fields such as Gymnastics and Swimming.
Currently , she is a primary 4 pupil at Dorette Nursery and Primary School, Benin-City
“She has Participated at the Owan 10km Marathon earlier this year, the Warri Peace Marathon and the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon,” Ohamu revealed.
He said it will be unfair to deny the girl the chance to compete here in Okpekpe.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Phillip Shaibu is part of the five-man team from the host state.
