3 More records fall at Mobil Athletics
Three more Mobil games records were smashed in the 400 metres men’s and women’s hurdles as well as the javelin events, at the just ended Mobil athletics championships held at the Kumasi Sports Stadium at the weekend.
Whilst Jackline Bludo and Ben Bennert of Fire Service and Central region respectively improved upon their time in the one-lap hurdles with a time of 1 minute 01.6 seconds and 52.6 seconds, Richard Agyepong of Immigration Service threw 62.72 metres in the javelin event to smash his old record of 62.67 metres performed at the Accra Sports Stadium in 1994.
The old record of 1 metres 2.09 seconds women’s 400 metres hurdles was held by Rukaya Chesco of Ashanti and was recorded at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in 1997, and the men’s 400 metres hurdles record was credited to Rockson Badu Addo of Ashanti in 1994 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Akosua Serwaa of Ashanti set the tone for record smashing n the first day, by breaking both the National and Mobil records in the 800 metres by clocking 2min. 05.2. It was an improvement on the existing record set by Gifty Abankwa of CEPS set in 1994 at the Accra Sports Stadium with a time of 2min. 08.7 second.
The other record set in the first day was in the men’s discuss by Isaac Boakye of Brong Ahafo. His throw of 46.86 metres bettered the seven year old record by Daniel Ofosu of CEPS who threw of46.26 metres at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
In spite of these feats, two athletes who set the stadium alight and brought spectators to their feet constantly were sensational Vida Anim and Abu Duah, both from Ashanti.
Vida Anina did not only anchor Ashanti to win the women’s 4x100 metres with a time of 46.0 second, but also won both the 100 and 200 metres events for the first time in games of such magnitude with an impressive time of 11.4 seconds and 23.4 second respectively.
In the men’s 100 and 200 metres events, Abu Dua also dominated by clocking an impressive 10.3 and 21.0 seconds respectively pushing fast improving Harry Adu Mfum from central to the second place with a time of 10.4 and 21.5 second respectively. Abu Dua also anchored the 4x100 metres event for Ashanti to win the gold medal with a time of 41.1 seconds, forcing Eric Ofori from Immigration and Ben Bennert from Central to console themselves with the silver and bronze medals respectively with a time of 41.3 and 41.4 seconds respectively.
In the women 100 and 200 metres events, Helina Amoako from Ashanti and Esther Danquah from Immigration respectively clocked 11.6 and 24.5 to take the third positions.
Helena Wrapper who flew from her base in the USA to the games ground just an hour before the beginning of 200 metres, due to the delay in dispatching her ticket for the event, managed to place fourth with a time of 24.6 seconds.
In the men’s 100 and 200 metres events, Addo Yobo and Ernest Osei, both from Ashanti clocked 10.5 seconds, and 21.7 seconds respectively to take the third positions.
In the women 400 metres hurdles, Rosina Amenebede from Ashanti won the gold with a time of 146.6 seconds, with the silver and bronze medals going to Jackline Bludu from Fire Service and Cordelia Naa from Prisons respectively with a time of 14.8 and 14.9 seconds.
Akosua Serwaa of Ashanti came first in the 400 women’s event by clocking 53.6 seconds whilst Grace Natey of Immigration and Gifty Addy of greater Accra came second and third respectively by clocking 54.4 and 54.5 seconds. Charity Baohemaa of Ashanti also clocking 4min. 47.2 seconds to win the 1500 metres event with the second and third positions going to Joyce Okantey of Police and Salamatu Sulemana of Upper East respectively with a time of 4min. 59.3 seconds and 5min. 07.0 seconds.
Prisons’ Service Gladys Adoma won the women’s 5000 metres event with a time of 17 min. 58.7 seconds, with the second and third positions going to Charity Boahemaaa and Mercy Twenewaa both from Ashanti who clocked 18 min.09.3 and 18 min. 28.8 seconds respectively.
The men’s 110 metres hurdles was won by Patrick Ackon of GUSA with a time of 14.8 seconds. The second position was won by Daniel Addy of Immigration who clocked 15.0 seconds, with the third position going to Ben Bernert of Central who clocked 15.02 second.
In the men’s 400 metres, Immigration Service dominated the first three positions, with Nathaniel Martey winning in a time of 47.2 seconds ahead of Daniel Adomako and Daniel Mensah, who clocked 47.3 and 48.0 seconds respectively.