Tijani wins 3rd national racewalking cup

The third national Race Walking Cup successfully ended at Cape Coast over the weekend. The competition aimed at selecting the best amongst the nation?s finest walkers to represent it at the 22nd edition of the world Walking Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the Spanish city of La-Coruna between the 13th and 14th of May 2006. Successful walkers in this exercise will as well participate in the African championship in Mauritius in the month of August.

In the men?s 20k walk, Ahmed Tijani Sanni of the Ghana Armed Forces (Navy) took the first position with a time of 1hr 32min 53.77secs.The second position was taken by Stanley Brimah of Cape Coast with a time of 1hr 33min 15.88secs.Bright Atta of Kumasi came third and clocked 1hr 33min 43.53secs.

Kofi Ali of Cape Coast won the 50k men walk in 4hrs 42min.15.00secs.The second and third positions were respectively taken by Mohammed Suleman and John Boamah in 4hr 42min 44.72secs and 4hr 43min 16.87secs respectively.

The women?s event saw Jacqueline Aku Bludo of the Ghana Police Service coming first in a time of 1hr 55min 41.66secs.The second and third positions were taken by Olivia Asamoah of Kumasi and Peace Iberebe of Nigeria in1hr 57min 47.73secs and 2hrs 0.7min 12.97secs respectively.

In the Juvenile category, Veronica Acquah of Cape Coast St. Michael School placed first in the girls under thirteen 2k walk with a time of 12 min 42sec.The boys in this category were led by Philip Tawiah of Amanful Catholic Boys? School with a time of 11min 15secs.Whiles in the under 15 Boys? 3k walk, Ebenezer Quaicoo was first in 16min 18secs.The juveniles as has been mentioned will join their senior colleagues in Europe in the month of June.

The Walk was sponsored by Energizer, Alitalia, Puma, Voltic, Parleys Biscuit, ODAS business centre, Savoy and Biriwa Beach Hotels, Elephant Ointment and many others.

In an interview with the Ace walker Vincent Asumang, he indicated that their foreign coach Dave McGovern of U.S.A was not happy that such an exercise would have to be carried out two weeks prior to the World cup. In his opinion the walkers would not recover fully from the strain of the competition before the time is due. Vincent however explained that lack of equipments like walking shoes as well as inadequate competition to put the walkers in shape delayed the selection exercise. He emphasized that the future of walking in the country looks very bright.Asumang did not miss words in thanking Ghana?s sprinter Eric Nkansah for his effort at getting a sponsorship deal from Puma.