Okpekpe 10km International Race: LOC Meets Governor Oshiomhole

The Local Organizing Committee of the Okpekpe 10km International Race is to meet the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole Monday 15^th April at the Government House in Benin City.

Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, confirmed that the LOC would meet with the governor to brief him on the programme of the international race that is going to attract several top African athletes to the state.

“We will brief the comrade governor on the programme of the Okpekpe International 10km Race. We are also going to use the opportunity to finalize other matters regarding logistics for the race,” observed the AFN technical director.

A press briefing has also been scheduled to hold in Benin immediately after the meeting with the governor.

Meanwhile, National Long Distance Coach, Stephen Nuhu, has hinted that his wards will not allow the East Africans win the Okpekpe race without giving them a fight for the mouth-watering $25,000 at stake for the first position.

“Our camp is opens Monday 15^th April for the Okpekpe race. We opened the camp with 45 runners out of which we are going to pick the best 30 to challenge the foreign athletes coming to Nigeria for the race,” Coach Nuhu who was at the AFN Golden League in Sagamu revealed.

He promised that the Nigerian road runners were going to be availed the opportunities of training on the course for over a two-week period before the race on May 4.

AFN Tasks Senior Athletes

To get the best athletes with good finish time at the IAAF World championships coming up in August, senior athletes hoping to make the national trials in Calabar have been mandated by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to make a set time in competitions from now till June before getting an invitation to the trials.

To this end, the AFN president, Evangelist Solomon Ogba has declared that gone are the days when all athletes come for the trials, while also stressing that every athlete interested in the competition should, up till June, make 10.20secs and 11.20secs for men and women respectively.

The former Delta State sports commissioner said setting huddles for athletes is a way of making the athletes put in their best while also adding that the federation doesn’t want to see athletes crashing out of events in the heat stages.

He gave the London 2012 Olympics as an example where, for the first time in Nigeria’s athletics history, the country had 11 semi-finals and five finalists at the Games, while stressing that it was made possible with hurdles of motivation set for the athletes.

 “There will be a standard to run at the national trials in Calabar this year because we don't want the situation where everybody can’t just come in.

 “To be invited for the trials, the men have to run 10.20secs while the women will have to make 11.20 to qualify to run in Calabar. Any athlete that don't make these time before the trials will not be invited for the trials this year.

“In the London 2012 Olympics, we had 11 semi-finalists and five finalists so we don’t want our athletes to go to the World Championships in Russia in August and come out in the heats so they have from January this year till June to make the time in competitions,” the AFN boss disclosed.

Ogba further added that when his board started some four years ago, the aim is to reposition Nigerian athletics and take it back to number one in Africa, as was achieved at the 2012 Africa Senior Athletics Championship in Porto Novo, Benin Republic; where the country took the first position after 10 years and the youth team won the inaugural youth version (AYAC) last month in Warri.

AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama added that to achieve the goal, the senior athletes will be monitored everywhere in the world where they are in competitions, in order not to give room to those that did not make set standard for the trials.

“We shall be monitoring all senior athletes in every competitions they will partake in because we want the best for the trials and the best for the World champs in Russia in August,” Nesiama stated.

Okpekpe Road Race: Cash Boost For Winners, Says Itemuagbor

All is set as the inaugural edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race debuts on May 4th in Okpekpe, Edo state.

According to the pioneer of the event, NFF marketing guru Mike Itemuagbor, Okpekpe road race is a product of good thinking by Edo state government in making good roads available that exposes the beautiful topography in the community for the world to admire.

He said athletes coming for the race will have the course to smile as there will be prizes ranging from US dollars for the elites while the local athletes will be paid in naira. Explaining the rational of the prize formula, the Special Adviser to the Edo State government on sports matters said; “There is no difference in the prize money, the Naira reward is for athletes within the community, people around the area, we want them to be part of the action, we have local champions everywhere who might not be professional athletes. But if somebody from my Okpekpe village wins the top prize ($25.000 dollars) so be it. What we are saying is this, if nobody from Okpekpe village was among the top eight, no problem, we have made a provision for them.”

However, Itemuagbor said the race will be continues as some partners are clamoring for about three road races. He also added that the tournament will be broadcast live for the world to see.

Meanwhile, cash prizes for athletes starts from $25.000.00 dollars for first place athlete to $3.000.00 for athlete in the 8th position for males. Females have prizes ranging from $5.000.00 dollars to $1000.00, while the prize money for Okpekpe community athletes ranges from N100, 000 for first position to N5000.00 for athlete in 8th position. It would be noted that the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has picked form for the race while athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and others has signified interest for the race.

Solid Works Boost AFN Golden League with with N50m

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League has received a N50 million sponsorship boost from Solid Works Limited.

 President of the AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that the sponsorship would enable the federation meet up with costs of hosting the League without hitches.


“We are grateful to Solid Works Limited for the sponsorship and hope to put up an edition worth remembering,” he noted.

Chief Ogba said that as a World Championships year, the AFN needs all the support it can get from the Corporate Nigeria to be able to put up a credible performance.


 “The Golden League series which my administration initiated at assumption of office are aimed at keeping Nigerian athletes based at home busy almost all through the season. We want to discourage our athletes from going to race in meets in Europe for peanuts. With the prize money at stake, serious athletes have something to look forward to in the Golden League every season,” stressed the former Delta State sports commissioner.

 The first leg of the 2013 AFN Golden League has been scheduled to hold at the Gateway Stadium in Sagamu Saturday 13th April 2013.

Oshiomhole registers for 10km Okpekpe race

Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has picked up registration form to take part in the inaugural edition of the Okpekpe International 10kilometres Road Race scheduled to hold on May 4 in Edo State.

Special Adviser to the governor on Sports Matters, Chief Mike Itemuagbo, confirmed that the Comrade governor sent in his entry form at the weekend.

“The governor is very excited about the Okpekpe International Road Race. He has promised to complete the race,” observed Itemuagbo who is the initiator of the race aimed at exposing the Okpekpe and its environs to athletes of repute from the globe.

Already, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has confirmed receiving entries from Kenya and Ethiopia for the 10km race that will witness top runners from the continent.

Assistant Secretary of the AFN, Olufemi Ajao, confirmed the entries from both Kenya and Ethiopia even as he further revealed discussions were going on with managers of top road runners globally.

“Apart from the entries from Kenya and Ethiopia, we have received inquiries from managers of some of the top road runners in Africa concerning the Okpekpe race. We are very certain that some established road runners are going to be part of this inaugural edition,”

Twenty-five thousand dollars is at stake for the top finisher while the second to the eight-placed runners in both the male and female categories will also smile home with cash from the organizers. Winner of the Edo indigene category is to also get N100,000 with second and third finishers also listed for prizes.

U.S. WOMEN WITH WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIERS (as of April 7)

100 Carmelita Jeter (wild card)
(A) 11.28
Octavious Freeman—11.02
Chaunte Bayne—11.12

(B) 11.36
Cleo VanBuren—11.34
Ashton Purvis—11.35

200 Charonda Williams (wild card)
(A) 23.05
Kimberlyn Duncan—22.54
Aurieyall Scott—22.68
Ashton Purvis—22.70
Octavious Freeman—22.72
Kamaria Brown—22.73
Natasha Hastings—22.89
Cierra White—22.91
Dezerea Bryant—23.00
Jasmine Chaney—23.01
Jessica Beard—23.02
Ashley Spencer—23.04

(B) 23.30
DeeDee Trotter—23.07
Ashley Collier—23.14
Taylor Evans—23.15
Brianna Rollins—23.22
Paris Daniels—23.23
Morolake Akinosun—23.26
Ashley Fields—23.28
Destinee Gause—23.28

400 (A) 51.55
Natasha Hastings—50.88
Ashley Spencer—51.27
Jessica Beard—51.55

(B) 52.35
Francena McCorory—51.58
Ebonie Floyd—51.82
Monica Hargrove—51.87
Phyllis Francis—52.01
Keshia Baker—52.09
Georganne Moline—52.09
Mary Wineberg—52.09
Kamaria Brown—52.16
Erika Rucker—52.22

800 (A) 2:00.00
None

(B) 2:01.50
None

1500 Jenny Simpson (wild card)
(A) 4:05.50
None

(B) 4:09.00
Brenda Martinez—4:08.43

Steeple (A) 9:43.00
None

(B) 9:48.00
Alexi Pappas—9:46.73

5000 (A) 15:18.00
Alisha Williams—15:09.73
Chelsea Reilly—15:13.24

(B) 15:24.00
None

10,000 (A) 31:45.00
Shalane Flanagan—31:04.85
Amy Hastings—31:10.69
Janet Bawcom—31:12.68
Lisa Uhl—31:12.80
Neely Spence Gracey (World XC)

(B) 32:05.00
Kara Goucher—31:46.64
Deena Kastor—31:49.23
Natosha Rogers—31:59.21
Kim Conley—32:00.94
Alisha Williams—32:03.07

100H Dawn Harper (wild card)
(A) 12.94
Vashti Thomas—12.94

(B) 13.10
Jasmine Stowers—13.07
Nichole Denby—13.10

400H Lashinda Demus (wild card)
(A) 55.40
Kori Carter—54.71
Georganne Moline—54.98

(B) 56.55
Dalilah Muhammad—55.97
Turquoise Thompson—56.16
Ashley Spencer—56.32
Ellen Wortham—56.55
Road events follow the decathlon

High Jump Chaunté Lowe (wild card)
(A) 1.95 / 6-4¾
Brigetta Barrett—1.95

(B) 1.92 / 6-3½
None

Pole Voult (A) 4.60 / 15-1
Jenn Suhr—5.02
Kylie Hutson—4.75
Janice Keppler—4.60
Mary Saxer—4.60

(B) 4.50 / 14-9
Becky Holliday—4.50
Morgann LeLeux—4.50

Long Jump Brittney Reese—6.85 (wild card)
(A) 6.75 / 22-1¾
Tori Bowie—6.91
Janay DeLoach Soukup—6.90

(B) 6.65 / 21-10
Tori Polk—6.70
Andrea Geubelle—6.69
Funmi Jimoh—6.68
Vashti Thomas—6.68
Whitney Gipson—6.65

Triple Jump (A) 14.40 / 47-3
None

(B) 14.20 / 46-7¼
None

SP (A) 18.30 / 60-½
Michelle Carter—19.41
Tia Brooks—19.22
Jeneva McCall—19.10

(B) 17.20 / 56-5¼
Felisha Johnson—17.80
Christina Hillman—17.69
Alyssa Hasslen—17.48
Anna Jelmini—17.35
Brittany Smith—17.30
Kyla Buckley—17.28

DT (A) 62.00 / 203-5
None

(B) 59.50 / 195-2
Anna Jelmini—60.61
Aretha Thurmond—60.20
Liz Podominick—59.58

HT (A) 72.00 / 236-3
Jessica Cosby-Toruga—73.00
Amanda Bingson—72.16

(B) 69.50 / 228-0
Chelsea Cassulo—69.80

JT (A) 62.00 / 203-5
None

(B) 60.00 / 196-10
None

Hept (A) 6100
Hyleas Fountain—6419
Sharon Day—6343
Chantae McMillan—6188
Bettie Wade—6143

(B) 5950
Barbara Nwaba—5986

Mar (A) 2:43:00
Shalane Flanagan—2:25:38
Desiree Davila—2:25:55
Kara Goucher—2:26:06
Amy Hastings—2:27:17
Renee Metivier Baillie—2:27:17
Serena Burla—2:28:27
Janet Bawcom—2:29:45
Deena Kastor—2:30:40
Clara Grandt—2:30:46
Alissa McKaig—2:31:56
Dot McMahan—2:32:11
Jeannette Faber—2:32:37
Stephanie Pezzullo—2:32:42
Magdalena Lewy Boulet—2:33:42
Katie McGregor—2:34:01
Melissa White—2:34:02
Wendy Thomas—2:34:25
Alisha Williams—2:35:09
Heidi Westover—2:35:35
Clara Peterson—2:35:50
Rebecca Donaghue—2:35:57
Atalech Asfaw—2:36:06
Kathy Newberry—2:36:21
Esther Erb—2:36:24
Brooke Wells—2:36:24
Loretta Kilmer—2:36:41
Nuta Olaru—2:36:57
Sheri Piers—2:36:59
Michelle Frey—2:37:03
Erin Nehus—2:37:06
Kelly Calway—2:37:10
Camille Herron—2:37:14
Linda Somers Smith—2:37:36
Ariana Hilborn—2:37:37
Emily Harrison—2:37:45
Rachel Booth—2:37:59
Caroline LeFrak—2:38:14
Zoila Gómez—2:38:37
Caroline White—2:38:43
Katie DiCamillo—2:38:50
Colleen de Reuck—2:38:52
Devon Crosby-Helms—2:38:55
Meagan Nedlo—2:39:08
Nicole Camp—2:39:10
Tera Moody—2:39:10
Kathleen Castles—2:39:19
Lauren Philbrook—2:39:47
Emily Potter—2:39:55
Kara Storage—2:39:59
Tara Storage—2:40:00
Michele Suszek—2:40:33
Alexandra Blake—2:40:36
Allison Macsas—2:40:47
Jenna Boren—2:40:48
Laurie Knowles—2:40:49
Jen Houck—2:40:51
Heidi Peoples—2:40:55
Laura Farley—2:41:05
Amanda Rice—2:41:06
Amanda Marino—2:41:22
Sopagna Eap—2:41:24
Kasie Enman—2:41:25
Addie Bracy—2:41:29
Sheila Croft—2:41:38
Jackie Pirtle-Hall—2:42:03
Heather Cappello—2:42:07
Raquel Stucky—2:42:08
Leah Thorvilson—2:42:09
Jodie Robertson—2:42:31
Nicole Cueno—2:42:33
Kerin Hempel—2:42:38
Megan Skeels—2:42:40
Natasha Labeaud—2:42:55
Brianne Nelson—2:42:58

20W (A) 1:36:00
Maria Michta—1:32:37
Miranda Melville—1:34:57
Erin Gray—1:35:41
None

(B) 1:38:00
Jill Cobb—1:37:01
Joanne Dow—1:37:10

AFN Changes Rules For Golden league

The technical committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released an adjusted programme for the year and also made changes to the rules of the 2013 AFN Golden League events.

A statement by the AFN Technical Committee signed by the Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, indicated that the 2013 Golden League will be performance-based and released the following rules to govern the event.

Qualification:
The first four in each of the above events shall automatically qualify for the next leg of the Golden League while the remaining four will qualify from the all comers’ events which shall be held in the morning of every event day.

Points:
The Golden League shall be on point scoring system 1st – 6th position shall score as follows:

Individual events
1st Position 10 points;
2nd Position 8 Points;
3rd Position 6 Points;
4th Position 4 points;
5th Position 2 points;
6th Position 1 point.

Bonus Points:
10 points shall be awarded to any athlete that achieve the IAAF World Championships ‘A’ Standard and any new National Record set shall attract 20 points.

According to Nesiama: "unlike what was obtainable in the past, athletes must achieve a minimum of 1050 points on the IAAF Scoring table before qualifying for any form of financial reward."

"All participating athletes must compete in their State or Club approved uniform especially in the relays," he added.

Nesiama also noted that there will be random dope test in any of the Golden League venue, as decided by the Technical and Anti-Doping committees of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.