SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, (THEWILL) – Fikadu Dawit, a Bahraini athlete, on Saturday, won the seventh edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race at Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo.
Dawit emerged the winner of the race’s 2019 edition with a time of 29 minutes three seconds to claim the $20,000 dollars prize money.
His feat makes it the first time, since its inception, that the IAAF Silver Label Okpekpe Road Race has produced a non-African winner.
Berehanu Tsegu from Ethiopia came second, returning after 29 mins four secs for a $13,000 cash prize while John Lotiang of Kenya was third with 29 mins 17 secs for $9,000 prize money.
Lliya Mwanta from Kenya won the elite female athletes’ category with 33 mins 14secs and was followed by Tuitoek Jepchir from Kenya who returned 33 mins 18secs. Kasegn Asefa from Ethiopia emerged third with 33 mins 31 secs.
The winner of the female elite category was also awarded $20,000 and the second-placed athlete $13,000 while the third-place winner got $9,000.
Meanwhile, there was excitement in the Nigerian category where a couple emerged victorious in male and female categories respectively. Emmanuel Gyan Gwom was the first Nigerian runner with a time of 31.42secs, while his wife Deborah won the female category.
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