Upper West and Central regions were the winners of both women and men’s division respectfully of the 28th edition of the National Cross Country race competition which ended at Mpohor on Saturday February 9, 2019.
The competition featured ten member teams representing the ten administrative regions of Ghana, parading over 180 runners.
In the men’s category, Central region picked 25 points to beat Ashanti region who scored 27 to place second whilst Eastern , Volta secured the third and fourth positions respectfully.
Upper West had 23 points to secure the first position in the women’s category whilst Upper East and Ashanti regions placed second and third positions respectfully. The overall winners were presented a trophy and a certificates of merit was also given to all the regions for their participation.
Malik Yakubu from the Ashanti region took home the first position in the men’s category which covered a distance of 10 kilometers with a time of 30 minutes, 02 seconds. William Amponsah from the Central region was second in the same category with a time of 30 minutes, 09 seconds whilst Ismael Arthur from the same region also secured the third position in a time of 30 minutes, 31 seconds.
Fifteen-year old Ramata Abdulai from the Upper West shockingly won the women’s race which also covered a distance of 10 kilometers with a time of 36 minutes, 35 seconds and was followed by Mary Babout from the Upper East in a time of 37 minutes, 29 seconds. Asibi Mumuni also from the Upper East took the third position.
Ramata who was drenched in sweat after the race told Kyfilla.com that ” I prepared for this competition and I was sure of winning.
“I was not afraid prior to the competition even though am a first-timer but it was such an exciting time during the race.
” I’m excited to win the race because it was not an easy task. A ten kilometer race isn’t an easy job.
Speaking after the competition, Honorable Perry Curtis Okwudzato , deputy Youth and Sports Minister stated that the competition is to usher in new sporting talents in the new year and also to identify talent to compete at the national level.
He however noted that the Akufo-Addo’s government would continue to organize supporting event in the country to train athletes to win laurels for Ghana at the iternational levels.
Last to add his voice was the National Sports Authority boss Professor Peter Twumasi who expressed his profound gratitude to the nananom of Mpohor for hosting the competition successfully and noted that sports is a vehicle for nation building and the cross country race competition is a unification for unleashing talent in the country.
Present at the competition was the deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Honorable Perry Curtis Kwudzato, DCE for Mpohor, Honorable Ignatius Mensah, Omanhene of Mpohor, Nana Kow Nti II, the various NSA officers across the country, headmistress for Mpohor Senior High School, Madam Alberta Rachael Quayson and other invited guests.
