Okpekpe 10km Road Race
Top Kenya long distance and road runner, Esther Chemtai Ndiema, has replaced Shitane Habtegebrel in the list of elite athletes for next month’s fourth Okpekpe International 10km Road Race in Okpekpe near Auchi, Edo State.
Spokesman for the IAAF bronze label race, Dare Esan, says Bahrain’s Habtegebrel pulled out of the race because of injury.
“Habtegebrel, a silver level running athlete, is injured after she has been confirmed for the race and our elite athletes manager, Walter Abmayr, has promptly replaced her with the Kenyan Ndiema,” said Esan, who further revealed that Ndiema is a gold level running athlete.
“This has brought the number of gold level running athletes for the race from four to five women following the confirmation of Pascalia Kipkoech, Maryane Wanjiru and Polline Wanjiku from Kenya and Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Gudeta for the race. These are all gold level running athletes,” said a delighted Esan.
“It’s obvious we are organising a bronze label event with the requirements for a gold label race. This is a demonstration of our determination to improve to a silver label rating next year. This is the dream of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the only IAAF label race in Nigeria,” he added.
- Guardian