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By Our Correspondent

No fewer than 70 runners have registered to take part in the first edition of 14km Opi Marathon Race scheduled to hold on Saturday next week, in Opi-Nsukka, Enugu State, South East Nigeria, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

In a release Thursday, the organiser of the race, Nnaemeka Eleje noted that the event is going on as scheduled adding that the registration deadline is on Saturday, 10th October, 2020.

Explaining further on the modalities for the race which will commence from the popular Opi Junction along Enugu-Makurdi Expressway to Queen of the Holy Rosary Secondary School Nsukka and back to the takeoff point, will be carried out with the applications and observations of all necessary medical and sporting procedures.

“Over 70 persons have registered for the race,” Mr Eleje said.

“Registration ends on 10th October 2020. And before that, there will be fitness test. The date for the test will be communicated soon and it is on this basis that we are ending the registration a week ahead of the date.

“Also, to be part of this race, you must be on normal sports attire on that day. The upper dress must be red colour.

“The date and time remain unchanged 17th October 2020. Kick-off time is 7am while accreditation will start by 6am,” he said.

Mr Eleje added that to ensure that the winners are identified and their records taken, his team has engaged experts to hep them monitor and record the minutes/time each runner returned to the finishing point.

Nigeria generally is not a power house in marathon races as events organised both within and outside the country have always been dominated by either Kenyan or Ethiopian runners.

However, Mr Eleje is hoping that with the support of good spirited individuals, Opi Marathon Race would change this trend.

“Of course Nigeria does not fare well in marathon and as you said, the Kenyans and Ethiopians are the ones calling the shots.

“But I believe that with good support from governments, individuals and corporate bodies, Opi Marathon Race will change this narrative in the near future.

“This is our maiden edition and we are looking forward to making changes in subsequent years to improve on the standard. By the time this comes in place, we will be able to produce long distance runners such as 10,000k runners an all that,” he told our correspondent in an interview.