Organ of the annual Okpekpe Road Race have revealed that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) have confirmed May 13, 2017 as date for the fifth edition of the competition.

For the second year running, the race is the only IAAF Label Road Race in Africa listed in the January to June calendar of road races released by the IAAF. It is also the only race in Nigeria listed by AIMS, which revealed that its course has been measured by an IAAF/AIMS accredited measurer.
 
This year’s race will hold in Okpekpe, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is located about 25 kilometres northeast of Auchi.

Last year Kenyans swept the male and female titles with Alex Korio winning the men’s event by 29:20 ahead of Leigh Gabriesileshe of Ethiopia and compatriot Amos Muteh, while Tanui Nkele also of Kenya came first in the women’s race with a time of 33:34.