Ethiopian teenager Lemi Teshome and Kenyan runner Fridah Ndinda headline a deep international lineup for the 11th edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, taking place on Saturday in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.<\/p>\n
The featured athletes are expected to land in Lagos on Friday, before continuing their journey to Auchi ahead of race day.<\/p>\n
Teshome, 19, arrives boasting a world ranking of 11th fastest over the 10km distance this year. He set that marker with a time of 27:17 in Lille, France last month, and will be looking to disrupt Kenya\u2019s long-standing grip on the men\u2019s crown. The title has remained with Kenyan athletes without interruption since compatriot Yasin Haji won in 2022.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s event, Ndinda\u2019s goal is to provide a new winning name after the last two editions\u2019 Kenyan success. She will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Gladys Kwamboka, who won the race in 2024.<\/p>\n
Among the main international men\u2019s contenders are Kenyans Victor Kimosop, Julius Kibowen Kipkwony and Mazon Kipngetich. Kipngetich has already gone under the 28-minute mark this year, while Uganda\u2019s Enoch Chebet and Tanzania\u2019s Jummanne Ngoya are also in the mix. Further entries include Benjamin Ratsam and Eritrea\u2019s Felicien Muhitira, who posted 2:06:54 in the marathon in 2024.<\/p>\n
Sharon Chepkemoi of Kenya and Ethiopia\u2019s Wubrist Aschal are among the leading women\u2019s challengers.<\/p>\n
There is also plenty at stake on the local scene. In the men\u2019s race, defending champion James Musa will attempt to hold onto the title he claimed in 2024. He is not expected to have things his own way, with 2023 winner Ismael Sadjo among those ready to challenge for top honours.<\/p>\n
On the women\u2019s side, Patience Daylop Mwavwang is chasing a third straight triumph after winning in 2023 and 2024. However, the five-time winner\u2019s road to another title looks tough, with Deborah Pam Badung\u2014multiple champion and targeting her first success since 2019\u2014set to pose a serious threat alongside other contenders.<\/p>\n
The Okpekpe event continues to stand out as a trailblazer in West Africa. It was the first road race in the region to earn World Athletics Label status, and it was also the first in Nigeria to have its route measured by a World Athletics-certified official.<\/p>\n
Course records add extra context for the field. Kenya\u2019s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo holds the men\u2019s benchmark at 28:28, while Kazakhstan\u2019s Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui owns the women\u2019s record with 32:38.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ethiopian teenager Lemi Teshome and Kenyan runner Fridah Ndinda headline a deep international lineup for the 11th edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, taking place on Saturday in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The featured athletes are expected to land in Lagos on Friday, before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Okpekpe 10km Road Race: Teshome, Ndinda Star Field","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Lemi Teshome and Fridah Ndinda spearhead the Okpekpe 10km field as the World Athletics Gold Label race returns to Edo State on Sat","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n