Cheprot, Wanjiku eye Okpekpke 10km titles News

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Cheprot, Wanjiku eye Okpekpke 10km titles

By Daily Sports on May 9, 2018

Simon Cheprot and Poline Wanjiku are eyeing their second wins in Nigeria’ Okpepke 10km road races on Saturday.

The duo stormed to victory in the 2016 races and is hoping to stamp their authority at the Edo State race. While Wanjiku was a no show in 2017, Cheprot was relegated to seventh place in the race, won by Ethiopian Leul Gebrselassie.

Cheprot, who confirmed participation said he will be heading to Nigeria to prove a point to Gebrselassie in his third appearance.

However, race organiser, Zack Amodu said the Kenyan duo should not expect a walk in the park.

“We are delighted to have both Cheprot and Wajinku back for this year’s race which has taken a significant leap from an IAAF bronze label race last year to a first ever silver label road race for the first time on Nigerian/West African soil,” said Amodu.

Wanjiku is the winner of the Warszawa PZU Half Marathon in Poland in late February and finished third at the Paris Half Marathon in personal best time of 1:08:20.

Cheprot who competed at this year’s Tokyo Marathon last year but failed to finish hopes to make year’s Okpekpe race explosive as well as set a new course record. The IAAF silver label Okpekpe international 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing in conjunction with the Edo State Athletics Association and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

•Story taken from The Star newspaper, Kenya. Photo shows Simon Cheprot

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 9, 2018