All set for Athletics circuit championship in Kumasi
All is set for the third Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), National Circuit Championship billed for Saturday, April 15, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
With three days to the big event, anticipation is growing as the locally based athletes are poised to seek qualification to the Junior Athletics Championship in Kenya and the World Athletics in London in June and August respectively.
The GAA National Open Championship will also present opportunity to the Association to select athletes for the national team and at the end of the final athletics championship to be staged in Cape Coast, athletes with the highest points build up will be awarded for their splendid performance.
Hundreds of athletes drawn from the ten regions, Security Services, Ghana Education Service, and some tertiary institutions are expected to be in action during the day’s event.
There have been some memorable moments during the first and second legs of the Circuit held at the Tamale Sports stadium and the El-Wak stadium respectively this year.
It includes the women’s 100m which has served as the major highlight of the Circuit since its inception in 2014.
In the 100m women’s race, there would be a tough competition, where Ashanti region’s finest sprinter Hor Halutie is set to renew her rivalry with 2016 Olympian Dorcas Gyimah who has twice been beaten to second place by her younger rival at the Circuit.
On paper, there is very little to choose between the two athletes who both recorded personal best 11.68s at the El Wak stadium last month. But Hor never looks back once she gets into the drive phase of her race. A tough battle for first place is expected to ensue on the tracks in Kumasi on Saturday.
Another athlete to look out for on Saturday is Margaret Simpson. Simpson will attempt to continue her dominance in the women’s long jump and 100m hurdles events, having won both events comfortably in Tamale and El Wak.
The 2005 World Heptathlon bronze medalist was miles ahead of her competitors when winning the long jump with 5.76m (SB) and 14.64s in the 100m hurdles at the El Wak stadium.
The three-time African heptathlon champion will also attempt to snatch back first place from Mary Zuta Nartey in the women’s shot put event. Margaret lost out to her “javelin student” (Mary Zuta) at the El Wak leg of the Circuit.
According to the organisers of the competition, the athletes are prepared and they are expecting an improved performance from them.
Source: GNA