Prempeh College and Saint Monica's are tops

Obuasi, March 1, GNA - Prempeh College garnered 112.5 points to take the first position in the boys' division of the Ashanti Regional Inter-Schools and Colleges Zonal and Super Zonal Athletics competitions held at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Opoku Ware Secondary OWASS came second with 105.5 points followed by T.I Ahmadiyya Secondary (AMASS) with 69 points, Tepa Secondary had 60 points, Konongo-Odumase got 41 points and Aduman Secondary had 31 points in that order of the Super Zonal which was competed in both divisions by 16 schools.

Mampong Saint Monica's Secondary came first in the girls division with 121.5 points followed by Kumasi Girls (KUGISS) at second position with 57 points whilst Saint Louis Girls School had 55 points, Yaa Asantewaa Girls had 51 points, Konongo-Odumase Secondary had 39 points and Nkawie Secondary/Technical had 30 points respectively. The quartets of Kumasi Girls' (KUGISS), Saint Monica's, Opoku Ware and Armed Forces Secondary/Technical Schools in Kumasi put up fantastic runs in the 4x400 metres race to bring the curtain down in the three-week competition on Tuesday.

Eric Goloe who was adjudged the best track athlete and the overall best athlete of the competition, powered Prempeh College towards their outstanding performance.

Goloe placed first in the 100, 200 and 400 metres and was also part of his school's 4x100 and 4x400 metres relay races and for his prize as the overall best athlete, he received cash amount of 200,000 cedis donated by Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, the Chief Executive Officer of AshantiGold Sporting Club.

Impressive Sarah Oteng who came first in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 metres races and was adjudged the best girl track athlete assisted Mampong Saint Monica's Secondary to chalk their feat in the girls division.

The best field athlete for the boys and girls went to Collins Amponsah of Prempeh College who set a new record of 14.20 metres in the triple jump with Amina Abass of Osei Kyeretwie (OKESS) who also setting a new record of a throw of 31.34 metres in the discuss event. Opoku Ware (OWASS) and Saint Louis Secondary schools were voted the best-behaved schools in the boys and girls divisions.

Vivian Efua Dansowaa of Yaa Asantewaa Girls and Sandrine Somiah of Konongo-Odumase Secondary Schools equaled the new record of 15.7 seconds set in the girls' 100 metres hurdles which was set by Sandrine at the zonal level of this year's competition.

In the 4x100 metres race, which was one of the exciting track events, Prempeh College came first with a time of 44.5 secs followed by Kumasi T.I. Ahmadiyya (AMASS) in a time of 44.6 secs and OWASS was at the third position in a time of 44.7 secs in the boys' division whilst Saint Monica's placed first in the girls division followed by KUGISS and AMASS in that order.

Mrs Belinda Serwaa Addo, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education in an address said the Ghana Education Service had included physical education and sports in the school's curriculum to enable the youth to be physically fit and mentally alert and disciplined. She said that the GES's sporting activities had a number of objectives including the unearthing of talents among boys and girls, socialization of students and the inculcation of discipline in the youth. commended the performance of the athletes during the zonal and super zonals, stressing that, "on the whole, performance during the four zonal and super zonal competitions have been excellent with the organisation also perfect".

Mrs Theresa A. Baah, the Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Schools and Colleges Sports Federation, commended the police and the various sponsors for their support. All the best athletes in the track and field events were given ghetto blasters as their prizes. 01 March 06