John Arthur of Opoku Ware School (OWASS) cleared 3.15 meters to set a new pole vault record at a two-day zone two Ashanti region Schools and Colleges athletics competition in Kumasi on Tuesday. The old record of 3.10 meters set in 2000, stood in the name of Kwame Kainya of the same school.

Opoku Ware won the competition bagging 174 points with Technology Secondary placing second with 97 points and Akumadan secondary came third with 66 points. The fourth place went to Konongo-Odumase secondary who scored 63 points with Atwimaman secondary taking the fifth position with 41 points followed at the sixth position by Saint Joseph's secondary with 34 points. Juaso Day secondary and Bompata Presbyterian secondary tied at the seventh position with 23 points each.

In the girls division, Konongo-Odumase took the first position with 84.5 points and were followed at the second position by Saint Louis secondary with 64 points while Bonwire secondary/technical was third with 55.5 points. The fourth position was taken by Technology secondary with 52 points while Akumadan placed fifth with 49.5 points. Juaso came sixth with 44 points and Bompata took the seventh position with 37 points.

Addressing the schools, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, stressed the need for second-cycle schools to run school programmes to provide equity in the delivery of every subject. This, he said, will enable students who were pro-academic and pro-sports to develop to the fullest of their capabilities. Sports, Mr Boafo emphasised that it is important in the process of self-development adding, "it is an important element in nation building because our participation in sporting activities foster friendship, tolerance and fair play".

Mr Samuel Mensah, Headmaster of Kumasi High School, noted that of late indiscipline had reared its ugly head in sports competitions with students engaging in smoking and rowdy behaviours. This, he noted, had led to some members of the public condemning sports competitions and stressed that sports is no grounds for indiscipline and immorality.