Okpekpe winners get national team call-up

The top 11 Nigerian athletes at the just concluded 10-kilometre Okpekpe Road Race has been called up to the national camp ahead of the All Africa Games and Olympics Games’ qualifiers.
 
According to former international and a member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Yusuf Alli, the athletes’ performance qualified them for the camp and they are expected to continue their training in readiness for major competitions.
 
At Okpekpe, Plateau’s Emmanuel Gyang ran 32.31 finished 17 to lead Nigeria’s male athlete at the tournament. Others are Plateau’s duo of Gideon Goyet, William Kefas, while Edo’s Osheku Lawrence, who ran 34.46 seconds finished fourth nationally.
 
Other national athletes that made the cut for the top 11 are Plateau’s Joshua Hassan and Dapreng Luka as well as Abia’s Ugochukwu Chukwumadu and Robert Okam.
 
In the women’s event, Deborah Pam of Plateau, who ran 38.41 seconds, dominated the event, with the top 10 completed by Lagos’ Ogunkoya Muibat, Edo’s Asedo Queensly, Lagos’ Ann Seriki, Niger’s Mary Raphael, Edo’s trio of Amalawa Emmanuel, Lawani Ruby and Peace Ikerebe.
 
For the top three Edo State athletes at the tournament, Asedo Queensly led the female event. Others are Amalawa Emmanuel and Lawani Ruby.
 
Osheku Lawrence ruled the male event, while others in top three are Edetalen Osmoses and Davidson Ohafi.
 
Alex Korio of Kenya won the event with 29 minutes, 20 seconds, while Leigh Gabriesileshe of Ethiopia came second with a time of 29 minutes 22 seconds and Amos Muteh of Kenya came third with a time of 29 minutes, 24 seconds.