Ghana wins inaugural West Africa Juniour Athletics Championship

Ghana secured a dramatic victory in the boys 4 x400m relay event to emerge champions at the inaugural West Africa Juniour Athletics Championship in Abidjan last Wednesday.

The trophy appeared destined to fall into the hands of sub regional rivals Nigeria, but the boys relay team anchored by John O’Brian, Daniel Gyasi, Solomon Afful and Bright Atta Gyamfi snatched victory with a blistering pace to overturn the tide.

Ghana thus gained eight gold medals, same as Nigeria, but managed to leapfrog the Nigerians having won eight silver medals compared to the five won by the Nigerians. Team Captain of Ghana sprinter Janet Amponsah led the medal honours with a performance that saw her win the girls 100m and 200m while helping the 4 x400m relay team to a silver medal.

Ghana also dominated the middle distance races with scintillating performances by Azumah Sampson and Lydia Afia Mato who caught the eye after winning gold medals in the boys and girls 1500m and the 3000m races. Ghana presented a team made of nine boys and ten girls who were selected from the 4th edition of the Maria Tsakos National Juniour Championship in Tamale last month in Tamale.

Eleven nations including host nation Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal and Benin took part in the competition which was organised under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States.