Edition 9

SPORTS 36
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A typical example is “USAIN BOLT” who
eyes will be watching because his name
has become synonymous with the
Olympics.
Athletics of Ghana was given a ray of hope at
the event which ushered in a new generation of
athletes including sprinters Tim Abeyie,
Ashaad Agyapong, Emmanuel Appiah Kubi,
Allah Laryea-Akrong and long jumper Nii Ayi.
The tall list also includes sprinters Flings
Owusu Agyapong, Beatrice Gyaman, Dorcas
Gyimah and long jumper Yetsa Tuakli-
Wosornu.
Ignatius Gaisah, silver medalist at the just
ended All Africa Games (AAG) in Long Jump,
will make a representation at the
championship.
Ghana's Margaret Simpson proved her status
as the Heptathlon Queen of the Africa
Continent by emerging tops at the Africa
Combined Events Championship held in
Bambous, Mauritius.
Simpson, 30, garnered 6,184 points to emerge
winner of the seven-event championship held
from 13-14 April at the Germain Comarmond
Stadium located in the Black River District of
the Indian Ocean Island.
The 2011 All Africa Games gold medalist has
sealed her ticket for the 27 July to 12 August
2012 championship in London.
Third place at the Commonwealth games last
two years, a fourth place at the 2006
IAAF World Athletics finals the same
year she bagged in a gold medal at the
African championship and gold at the
Commonwealth games.
From 2003 at the world and Africa
meetings, Gaisah has proven he is a
powerhouse to reckon with in the long
jump division in the world, a medal
hopeful but who is being groomed
quickly to replace him since fatigue may
give in to stress soon. Our structures for
development need to be critically
looked at.
Ghana's queen of sprint Vida Anim is no
different from Gaisah. Having qualified
for the Olympic meeting this year
comes as no surprise but the time and
improvement of preparations in
previous year's meetings have given off
a perfect performance.
With several medals decorated in her
name and that of the country, Vida Anim
will be hoping to make count her latter
years on the tracks and probably hang
her spikes after the sterling
performances displayed on the
continent and the world.
Finally, talking of nurturing talents and
insurgence of new breed of track and
field names yet to ink their spikes on the
tracks of Africa and the world following a
spectacle of show at the maiden West
African Junior Athletics Championship
i n A b i d j a n , C o t e D ' i v o r e .
The trophy appeared destined to
fall into the hands of sub regional
rivals Nigeria, but the men 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,Team Captain of Ghana
sprinter Janet Amponsah led the
medal honours with a performance
that saw her win the women 100m
and 200m while helping the 4
x400m relay team to a silver medal.
Ghana also dominated the middle
distance races with scintillating
p e r f o r m a n c e s b y A z u m a h
Sampson and Lydia Afia Mato who
caught the eye after winning gold