Okpekpe road race is an annual event in Edo State, Nigeria. It is a 10 Kilometre road race over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and ending in Okpekpe town. The Okpekpe International Road Race invites world-class runners from around the world annually in a tradition to intermix local, up and coming runners with the best of the best.
In the ninth edition which took place on the 27th of May, 2023, Daniel Ebenyo, a Kenya athlete emerged the winner of the race setting a new course record of 28 minutes, 28 seconds as against the old record of 28 minutes, 35 seconds set in 2014 by Teshome Mekonen of Ethiopia to claim the 20,000 dollars prize money.
Daniel emerged the winner of the race’s 2023 edition setting a new course record of 28 minutes, 28 seconds as against the old record of 28 minutes, 35 seconds set in 2014 by Teshome Mekonen of Ethiopia to claim the 20,000 dollars prize money. Brian Kwemoi also from Kenya came second after running for 28 mins 40 secs for a 13,000 dollars cash prize. Yasin Haji, a defending champion from Ethiopia was dethroned after he came third with 29 mins 34 secs for a 9,000 dollars prize money. Daniel who won the male category tagged “Elite men athletes’’ said he was very delighted to have emerged the overall winner of the competition. Carolina Cheokoech Kipkirui who came almost late for the event from Kazastan won the elite female athletes category with 32 minutes 38 seconds and was followed by Ludwina Chepngetich who came second and Bertukan Welde in the 3rd place.
There were also prizes given to the winners of both the Nigerian men and women categories as well as Okpekpe indigenes and Ora community students.
