FROM TONY OSAUZO, BENIN
EAST Africa runners yesterday confirmed their supremacy in long distance race. Like the previous years, they also dominated this year’s 10-kilometre Okpekpe International road race in Edo State.
Athletes from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda came first, second and third respectively in the male category, while athletes from Kenya came first and second in the female category, and an Ethiopian came third in the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF)- recognised (Bronze category) race.
Athletes in their hundreds consisting local, national and international, took off at the starting line at about 8:45 am, while Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole , who led the VIP category, took off at the starting line 30 minutes later.
At the end of the race, Simon Cheproch from Kenya won the gold prize of $15,000 after he breasted the finishing line at 29.48 minutes.
The silver medal was clinched by a Tanzanian, Ishmael Jumagalet at a time of 29.50 minutes. He went home with $10,000, while Timothy Tonch from Uganda who breasted the line at 29.54 minutes won the $7000 prize money for bronze.
In the female international category, Pollin Njeru and Ndiema Esther, both Kenyans, came first and second respectively while Buzunesh Gudeta of Ethiopia came third.
In the Nigeria category (male), Adamu Shehu Muazu (32.36 mins), Stephen Joshua (32.37 mins) and Emmanuel Gyang (32.39 mins) came first, second and third respectively and went home with N250,000, N100,000 and N80,000.