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World Athletics has recertified the status of the race as a gold label event following the reclassification of label road races in 2024 into four categories namely World Athletics Label, World Athletics Elite Label, World Athletics Gold Label and World Athletics Platinum Label.
The athletics world body also hailed Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the world-class Okpekpe International 10km road race, for its positive contributions to road running in the world.
In a message on the certificate of classification of Okpekpe’s status as a gold label race, World Athletics thanked the organisers and partners of the race for supporting the event and road running generally.
“World Athletics is grateful to your organisation and partners for the continuous support you give to road running,” the world governing body stated.
The international 10km road race is the first world-class road race to hold in Nigeria following its classification as a bronze label race in 2015, eight years after World Athletics began the classification of road races in the world.
It’s the first race to have its course measured by a World Athletics certified course measurer and the first to become a member of AIMS.
Zack Amodu , the race director, said, “This honour belongs to our sponsors and partners as rightly acknowledged by World Athletics. Without them, we would not have become the first label road race in West Africa.
“We say thank you to the government and people of Edo state, who provided the enabling environment, including the road for the race, Nigerian Breweries, our CSR partner, Petralon Energy, Development Bank Plc, Dan Oil as well as our broadcast partners Supersport and African Independent Television. The media also deserves a special mention as they have projected Okpekpe, a rural community, host town of the race, to the world and has helped make Edo a destination for sports.”
The 10th edition of the race holds May 25.
