Amodu says: “While our ability to organise a world-class event is not in doubt, this year’s race will be the biggest because World Athletics has raised the bar in terms of requirements to organise an elite label race”
By Uzor Odigbo
With seven days to go to the eighth edition of the World Athletics Elite Label Okpekpe international 10km road race, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the historic race says this year’s edition will be the biggest ever.
Race director, Zack Amodu, says arrangements have been concluded for a hitch-free race next Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state.
“While our ability to organise a world-class event is not in doubt, this year’s race will be the biggest because World Athletics has raised the bar in terms of requirements to organise an elite label race.
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“Last November World Athletics reclassified all its label races and Okpekpe race was reclassified as an elite label race and with it came new rules in terms of its technical organisation and quality of the elite athletes expected to run at the event,” said Amodu who also revealed the quality of the elite cast for this year is the best ever.
“This is why we are confident of new course records in the men’s and women’s categories. The new rule says an elite label race must have at least five athletes who have run 28.27 for men and 33.07 for men. The time for men is way above the 28.35 Ethiopia’s Teshome Mekonen ran in 2014 to set the course record for men,” added Amodu.
The race director also revealed the best of Nigeria’s elite road race runners have registered for the race.
“All the top elite runners in Nigeria have been registered for the race. They will all be in Auchi on Thursday with their foreign counterparts,” Amodu said.
On the quality of the technical and administrative organisation of the race, Amodu says Pamodzi has received high scores from World Athletics with its elite label status.
“A World Athletics label denotes high standards in event organisation and what we are offering in Okpekpe is what obtains at any World Athletics elite label race in the world,” he assured.