The sixth edition of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s (GNPC’s) Ghana’s Fastest Human Tamale event ended successfully at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale on Saturday, 29th February, 2020.
At a packed programme on Saturday morning, athletes from the five regions of the north plus others from Southern Ghana converged to test themselves on their speed levels for the big occasion.
The GNPC for the past five seasons have been sponsoring this event aimed at unearthing talents in the 100metres event across the country.
Saturday’s Tamale Open 2020 event was successfully organized and saw competition in Under 10 boys and girls in a 60meter race, Under 15 boys and girls, Under 18 boys and girls and the seniors’ event both male and female.
At the end of the event, Abubakari Sazuju of Lamashegu Primary School came first in the Under 10 boys 60meter event with a time of 8.20seconds followed by Seidu Zaidan of Bagabaga Primary School in second with a time of 8.22seconds. In third place was Mohammed Sadat of SORA athletics club with a time of 8.37seconds. In the girls Under 10 60meters category, Alhassan Hamdia of St. Peters Primary School in Tamale came first with a time of 8.63seconds, in second was Anafo Faustina of Dapoore Primary School in the Upper East Region with a time of 8.99seconds. Ayedana Emmanuella of Winkongo Central School also in the Upper East Region came third with a time of 9.00seconds.
In the Under 15 Boys 100meters category, Alhassan Sora Kamaldeen of Northern Region was first with a time of 12.33seconds. Richard Akugre of Ridge Primary School in Tamale was second with a time of 12.45seconds. In third place was Nicholas Samare of Shallom Academy also of Northern Region with a time of 12.53seconds. In the girls Under 15 100m race, Gadenkyina Angela of SORA athletics club was first with a time 12.83seconds. Zong Mary of Big Boss in the Upper East Region was second with a time of 12.91seconds while Ayelinga Lamisi also of Big Boss was third with a time of 13.14seconds.
The Under 18 boys 100m race saw Amponsah Denis of Dungu in Tamale taking the first position with a time of 10.31seconds. Mohammed S. Mohammed of SORA athletics club was second with a time of 10.68seconds while Tanko Abdul Basit also of SORA athletics club was third with a time of 10.80seconds.
In the seniors male 100m event, Barnabas Aggerh of the University for Development Studies (UDS) was first with a time of 10.05seconds. Ansah Sarfo also of UDS was second with a time of 10.20seconds while Saminu Abdul Rashid from Ashanti Region and a member of the GNPC Speedsters Club was third with a time of 10.43seconds.
In the females’ seniors’ category, Kate Agyemang of UDS and a member of the GNPC Speedsters Club was first with a time of 11.52seconds. Rafiatu Nuhu of UDS was second with a time of 11. 70seconds while Barikisu Issahaku also of UDS was third with a time of 11.73seconds.
All the winners were presented with certificates of participation and have thus qualified to the final event in the series to be held in Kumasi in June this year.
The Corporate Social Responsibility Officer of GNPC Edward Atiaba who represented GNPC at the event said the event is part of his outfit’s commitment to develop all aspects of the Ghanaian talents across all disciplines and it is not surprising they are into football too. He said they aim to take this further into the future to ensure that Ghana gets representatives to compete for the nation in world events such as the Olympic Games. He admonished athletes to be disciplined in their chosen endeavor since its discipline coupled with hard work that can take them far in life.
The Ghana’s Fastest train will now derail at Cape Coast in the Central Region before it will move back to Kumasi and then to Accra before the finals in Kumasi again.
Story By: Abdulai Majeed
Sports Desk
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