Nigeria’s long  jump record holder, Yusuf Alli is confident a new competition record and a new world leading time will be set come Saturday May 16 at the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpepke, Auchi, Edo State.

Alli, a two-time IAAF World Championship long jump finalist is also not closing the door of a possible world record at the event going by the quality of the elite cast registered for the IAAF bronze label road race.

The world record for men stands at 26:44 minutes set by Kenya’s Leonard Patrick Komon in 2010 while Britain’s Paula Radcliffe holds the women’s record of 30:21 minutes set way back in 2003. The competition record of  29:39 minutes for men is held by Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan while his country woman,Wuday Ayalew holds the women’s record of 32:41 mins.

FILE: GOV. ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE (3RD R) OF EDO AND OTHERS TAKING
OFF DURING THE VIP RACE AT THE OKPEKPE INTERNATIONAL 10KM ROAD
RACE IN AUCHI, EDO, ON SATURDAY.

The start-list of this year’s race is what is giving Alli confidence.

“In the men’s race for example there are two of the four fastest men in the world so far this year.

The duo of Amos Kiplimo Mitei of Kenya who has ran 27:58 this year and Dawi Fikadu who also holds a personal and season’s best of 28:04. They are capable of running faster and that can only mean a new world lead (27:47) currently held by Kenya’s Japhet Kipyegon Korir and certainly a new competition record,” he said.

Alli believes the $25,000 top prize is also a motivating factor for the athletes to go the extra mile.