Daniel Ebenyo’s dream of becoming the first man to successfully defend the Okpekpe 10km race title has been derailed by injury.
The 28-year-old who won the men’s title last year had promised to return this year to his adopted second country, Nigeria, but an injury he sustained in training means he will not be in Okpekpe to defend his title.
The Kenyan has equally lamented his inability to be the first man to break 28 minutes at the race after setting a 28:28 course record in 2023.
“I had a dream to be the first man to defend my title and run another course record but definitely I can’t again,” the Kenyan reportedly said in a message to the Okpekpe race media.
While wishing the athletes who will compete for honours this year all the best, Ebenyo also has nice words for the organizers of the world class, gold label 10km road race.
Read Also: Simbine to take on Noah Lyles over 150m at adidas Atlanta City Games
“ I am hereby wishing all the runners all the best and may the best athlete win,” he said. “Okpekpe is always a bridge and a mother to all races in Africa.
“God bless Okpekpe and God bless the organisers of the race. See you next year,” added Ebenyo who made the podium at both the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and World Athletics Road Running championships in Riga after emerging Okpekpe race champion last year.
This year’s race is the 10th in the series and organisers have assured of another world class event come May 25 in Okpekpe in Edo state of Nigeria.
The race is the first road race in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics’ certified measurer and the first be in West Africa to be granted label status to depicts its world class status.