{{Ethiopian athletes, Teshone Asafah and Wooden Ayela, yesterday emerged winners in both male and female categories of the second edition of the 2014 Okpekpe Road Race in Edo State, Nigeria.}}
Asafah emerged victorious in a record time 28.35sec to win the cash prize of $25,000 erasing the 2013 record of 29.49sec while Ayela outrun everybody in the female category also in a record time of 32.4sec and went home with a cash prize of $15,000.
In the male category, two Kenyans, Amos Mitel and Cornelius Kangogo, placed second and third positions respectively in a record time of 28.53sec and 29. 15sec while the second and third positions for the female category went to Jenneth Yela of Ethiopia and MoheÍn Debaba of Kenya also in a record time of 32.52, sec and 32.59sec respectively.
In the Executive category, Governor Adams Oshiomhole came first as Isah Aremu was the first runners-up.
Addressing the crowd of participants and spectators, the host, Governor Oshiomhole said: “It is a thing of joy that Edo State is hosting the world.”
Oshiomhole who stated that the Okpekpe 10 kilometre Road Race has become one of the events in the Nigeria sporting history, also noted that the race has served as a bridge among different tribes in the society.
While commending the organisers of the event, he however frowned at the gender discrimination in terms of the prize money given to winners in the male and female categories and henceforth directed that the winners should be treated equally.
He urged the organisers to immediately commence the planning for a proposed a full marathon race at 52 kilometre road Urhonigbe, Orihionmwon local council in Edo South since the area boost long stretch of roads.
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