Defending champion Cheprot puts title on line in Logos road race

Kenya's Simon Cheprot will return to defend his title at the fifth edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race in Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday.

In the men front, Kenya will have Pascalia Chepkorir Kipkoech, the fifth finisher at this year's Yangzhou Half Marathon, aiming to claim the honours and the prize money.

The event, which is an IAAF Bronze label road race, is one of the premier competitions in the country and has attracted some of the top names.

Cheprot, 23, battled hot and humid conditions one year ago to prevail in 29:48 six weeks after a notable sixth place finish at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff.

The Kenyan has raced sparingly this year, and most recently clocked 42:51 in a 15km race in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, where he finished third.

"It is all about preparation. The challenge is strong but I have done my work right and hopefully, I will be able to get the title again," said Cheprot on Thursday.

Also back is Ismail Juma of Tanzania, the runner-up last year. The 25-year-old arrives on the heels of a solid victory at the Istanbul Half Marathon where he clocked a 1:00:09 lifetime best and should be considered the favourite.

Others to watch include Kenyan Edwin Kipyego, who has a 27:49 lifetime best from 2012 and this year clocked 1:00:05 in February for sixth at the RAK Half in Ras Al Khaimah; Birhanu Yemataw of Bahrain, an Olympic 5,000m finalist last year; and Mustapha El Aziz of Morocco, the African Championships 10,000m silver medalist in 2014 who clocked his 27:33 lifetime best on the roads in Marrakech last year.

In the women's race, Ethiopian Netsanet Gudeta, bronze medallist at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships, could be the woman to beat.

The 26-year-old arrives in good form, racing for the first time after her 2:29:15 run at the Paris Marathon in early April where she finished sixth.

She will be joined by compatriot Azmera Gebru, an African junior champion at 3,000m in 2011, who boasts a 31:50 lifetime best over the 10km distance from 2014. She hasn't yet raced this year.

Leading the Kenyan contingent will be Pascalia Chepkorir Kipkoech, who was fifth at the recent Yangzhou Half Marathon in 1:11:31.

She will have veteran racer Alice Timbilili, who ran 31:12 for the distance in 2010, but who appears far from that form this season with just a modest 2:39:02 marathon finish in February to her credit from Lagos. Endit