January 09, (THEWILL) – The Okpekpe international 10km road race in Nigeria has recently been certified by World Athletics, the governing body for track and field events.
This certification is a significant achievement for the race, as it means that it has met the high standards set by World Athletics for road race courses. As a result, the Okpekpe race has been granted a gold-label status, making it the first truly world-class road running event in Nigeria.
In order to achieve this certification, the race had to have its course measured by a World Athletics and AIMS certified course measurer. This ensures that the course meets the necessary standards in terms of distance, surface, and other factors. The Okpekpe race is the first in West Africa to be granted a label status, and it has already gone through two upgrades, starting with a bronze label in 2015 and then a silver label before finally achieving gold.
In addition to the Okpekpe race, the Access Bank Lagos Marathon and its 10km component have also been certified by World Athletics. This makes the marathon the second World Athletics-labeled road race in Nigeria. In total, 16 road races in Nigeria have received certification from World Athletics, including four in Abuja, two in Ijebu Ode, three in Kaduna, two in Onitsha, one in Abeokuta, and the Osogbo Brandove Osun Women’s Run 10km race.
The certification of these races means that all performances achieved at them will be eligible for top lists of performances, entry standards for major championships and Games, world rankings, and world records. Okpekpe’s 10km road race and the Access Bank Lagos Marathon’s certificates will expire in 2026, while the certificates for the four races in Abuja will expire in 2025, and the certificates for the two races in Onitsha and the Abeokuta 10km race will expire this year.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
