Athletes to look out for at Okpekpe event

All eyes will be on Ethiopian sensation Lemi Teshome and Kenyan star Fridah Ndinda as the 2026 10 km Okpekpe Road Race gets underway today, with both athletes having arrived in Lagos on Wednesday alongside other top international elite athletes en route to Auchi for the prestigious event.

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Teshome, a mere 19 years old, boasts an impressive ranking as the 11th fastest man over the 10km distance globally this year, courtesy of his scintillating 27:17 performance in Lille, France last month.

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His goal will be to put an end to Kenya's dominance in the men's title, which has been unbroken since 2022, when his compatriot Yasin Haji last emerged victorious in the race.

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In the women's category, Ndinda will be looking to follow in the footsteps of her compatriot Gladys Kwamboka, who claimed the top spot in 2024.

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Other notable elite athletes set to compete today include Kenyans Victor Kimosop, Julius Kibowen Kipkwony, and Mazon Kipngetich, the latter of whom has already broken the 28-minute barrier this year.

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Uganda's Enoch Chebet, Tanzania's Jummanne Ngoya and Benjamin Ratsm, as well as Eritrea's Felicien Muhitira, who achieved a remarkable 2:06:54 in the full marathon in 2024, are also part of the international lineup.

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For the women, Kenya's Sharon Chepkemoi and Ethiopia's Wubrist Aschal are among the elite athletes expected to participate in the event.

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On the Nigerian front, men's defending champion James Musa will be seeking to retain his title from 2024, but faces stiff competition from 2023 winner Ismael Sadjo.

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In the women's category, Patience Daylop Mwavwang is aiming for a third consecutive win after her victories in 2023 and 2024, but will have to contend with multiple champion Deborah Pam Badung, who is seeking a return to the top spot for the first time since 2019.

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The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race remains a pioneering force in West Africa, having been the first road race in the region to receive a World Athletics Label status and the first in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified course measurer.