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Okpekpe organisers increase prize money

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Okpekpe International 10km Road Race organisers have increased the prize money for the sixth edition of the event  scheduled to hold   in Okpekepe in Edo State on  May 12.

Spokesman for the race Dare Esan  said  $112,000 is on offer as prize money  for  the top eight finishers in the men and women’s elite race with the winner in each gender category going home with $20,000 while $13,000 and $9,000 respectively will go to the second and third placed finishers.

Esan said, “The  prizes for 4th-8th placed finishers in each gender category are $6,500, $3,000, $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000 respectively.The  increase in the prize money is inevitable because of the elevated status of the  race.”

He added, “Remember this is the only IAAF Silver Label road race in Africa this year and one of only 10 confirmed by the IAAF for the  first half of this year.The requirements for organising a silver label road race is different from what obtains for a bronze  label event.

“At the semi-highest level that the silver label is, the IAAF expects not only gold or silver level elite runners to grace  the event but also a perfect technical organisation of the race.”

He said, “The total prize purse (for Nigerians) of N1.1m paid out last year has been increased to N4.8m this year with the first placed finishers in both the men and women race going home with N1,000,000 while the second to the fifth placed finishers will get N600,000,N400,000,N250,000 and N150,000 respectively.

“The payment of prize money and bonuses is dependent upon athletes clearing the usual anti-doping procedures. Both the elite  and semi-elite runners running for the prize money on offer must also achieve a level of performance before they can redeem their respective prizes.

‘’For example to qualify for the $20,000 top prize for the elite runners ,the athletes must run 28:35.00 minutes or better for the men and 32:41.00 minutes for the women.For the Nigerian category,the winners must run 29:04.00 minutes or better for men and 34:05.01 minutes for the women’s race.”

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