Athletes prepare towards C'wealth Games

Kumasi, Dec 5, GNA - The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) and the National Sports Council (NSC) have jointly organized a one-day athletics competition at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi at the weekend in preparation for next year's Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia.
The participants who were drawn from the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Central Regions, competed in 100 metres (men and women), long jump (men and women), 400 metres (men and women), 200 metres (men and women), 800 metres (women), 1,500 (men) and 4x100 relay for both men and women.
Clement Agyeman of Greater Accra won the men's 100 metres race with a time of 10.4 seconds and was followed by Cyril Ferguson of Western Region in a time of 10.7 seconds while Edward Aikins of Accra placed third with a time of 10.8 seconds.
It was all a Greater Accra dominance in the 400 metre race when Bawa Fuseini came first with a time of 47.5 seconds following by Daniel Mensah with a time of 47.6 secs and Gausu Yakubu placing third with a time of 48.3 secs.
Alex Atiso of Ashanti came first in the men's 1,500 metres race with a time of four minutes 01.8 secs followed by David Zigah of Accra at the second position with a time of four minutes 02.8 secs and George Nartey also of Accra taking the third place with a time of four minutes 03.4 secs.
Cyril Ferguson of Western Region won the 200 metres event with a time of 21.7 secs following by Kwaku Nimako of Greater Accra Region with a time of 21.9 seconds.
Fred Homey of Greater Accra leapt 7.25 metres to win the men's long jump event with C. Amankra also of Greater Accra taking the second position with a leap of 7.05 metres and Solomon Ashong of Western Region placing third with a leap of 7.00 metres.
Ashanti Region took the first and second positions in the men's 4x100 relay with the time of 41.8 seconds and 42.3 seconds respectively with Greater Accra picking the third place with a time of 42.4 secs. Dora Aseasey of Greater Accra Region won the women's 800 metres event with a time of 12.4 secs followed by Millicent Boadi of the Ashanti Region at the second position with a time of 12.5 secs and Mugis Iddrisu also of Ashanti Region coming third with a time of 12.2 secs. Georgina Sowa of Greater Accra Region won the women's long jump event with a leap of 5.95 metres with Linda Boatemaa of Ashanti Region coming second with a leap of 5.50 metres and Grace Agbeko of Greater Accra Region coming third with a jump of 5.18 metres.
Gifty Addy of Greater Accra Region came first in the women's 100 metres race with a time of 11.6 seconds followed by Elizabeth Amolofo of Ashanti Region with a time of 11.9 secs while Angela Quartey of Greater Accra came third with the time of 12.2 secs.
The women's 400 metres race was an all Ashanti Region affair as Elizabeth Amolofo won the event with a time of 56.9 secs followed by Joana Atinkaden with a time of 59.4 secs and Mugis Iddrisu coming third with a time of 62.4 secs.
Gifty Addy of Greater Accra Region ran a good race to win the 200 metres race with a time of 24.0 seconds followed by Elizabeth Amolofo of Ashanti Region at the second position with a time of 24.9 secs and Francis Sowu of Greater Accra Region coming third with a time of 20.2 secs.
Greater Accra Region took the first and second places of the women's relay events with the time of 47.4 secs, 49.5 secs respectively with Ashanti coming third with a time of 50.1 secs. Speaking to the GNA Sports, Mr Emmanuel Oteng, Secretary General of GAA said since the association is aware of the high standards at the Commonwealth games it has decided to target some central events, which the nation can perform creditable.
He said he hoped athletes both in the country and outside will train very hard towards the games as well as the West African Games to be staged next year.
Mr Ohene Karikari, Ashanti Regional Sports Development Officer commended the sports men and women for their performance and urged them to fine tune their preparations to serve the country when the need arises.
Mr Sandy Osei-Agyeman, Chairman of the association said a final squad for the games will be made in March next year at the same venue and urged the athletes to continue to train hard especially in the relay races.