Ghana Athletics Association organises second National Championship
The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) has organized its first National Circuit Championship but second athletics competition, to select athletes for the African Athletics Championship and the Rio Olympic Games this year.
The competition held at the Bolga Sports Stadium aimed to discover talents across the country was keenly contested by about 200 local athletes in both the track and field events.
Malik Yakubu stole the show in the men’s 10,000m as the Ashanti Region man run 32.46s followed by Adukpo Godwin from CEPS second in a time of 32.52s run whiles Joseph Vandal from the Ghana Police the third position with 32.51s.
In the men’s 400m division Kwadwo Acheampong came first as he ran 48.56s whereas Goku Prosper from CEPS did not gamble with his race as he run past his other opponents to win the Men 1,500m after he completed the race in 3:53s.
Ghana’s Sensational marathon runner Sakat Lariba was crowned champion in the Women’s 5000m securing the time of 17.55s and Elizabeth Azure came second after grabbing 18.23 secs and Mumuni Asibi held on tight to the third position as she makes the time of 19.08 seconds.
The 4000m women’s race was won by Tetteh Diana as the Ghana Fire Service lady fired 3.53secs to run past her contenders.
Ghana’s Youth Olympics gold Medalist Martha Bissah could not disappoint her fans as she came on top of her favorite 800m making a time of 2:11s and Dorcas Gyimah capitalised on her energy to win the women 200m final race with 24:30secs beating equally good 200m runner Cecilia Asekiya to push her to second position in her 24.53s time.
Other competitions which were fiercely contested for include javelin, triple jump, discuss, shot put among others.
President of the GAA Professor Francis Dodoo said that, he was impressed with the level of performances displayed by the athletes saying ” I am happy with the kind of delivery from the athletes, it is our second competition in the year and the kind of time the athletes are making I am highly impressed especially on a Grass less ground.”
Prof. Dodoo added that his outfit are still in talks with cooperate entities to help sponsor the sport as they (GAA) alone cannot carry the weight.
“We are even in talks with super sports to help give us worldwide coverage so that wen sponsors come on board they can enjoy the huge mileage that will be given to them” He said.
Dodoo who doubles as the Ghana Olympic Committee president debunked claims that athletics is dead in Ghana.
“Athletics is never dead, those who are saying that do not know the real issues on the ground, you can see we are working timelessly to discover talents for the future, we are taking athletics to the grassroot so we can fetch for outstanding athletes to represent Ghana in any competition hence our trip to Bolgatanga.
“We have eight more competitions lined up by the GAA of which we will select athletes who have distinguished themselves and send them to African Athletics Championship in Durban and Olympic Games in Brazil” Prof Dodoo Noted.
The next Championship will be held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi in a fortnight.
Source: GNA