UG Student Ranked Among Best Twenty Athletes in Africa
University of Ghana’s Aziz Mohammed has been ranked among the best twenty (20) Cross Country Athletes at the just ended 5th All Africa Universities Cross Country Championship held at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya on Saturday, 20th November 2021.
It was the first time the University of Ghana participated in the Championship organised by the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU). The University of Ghana was the only university from Ghana and the West African Sub Region to participate in the Championship.
Mohammed, a beneficiary of the University of Ghana Policy on the Admission of Athlete Students (UG-PAAS) and the University of Ghana Sports Fund is a Diploma in Public Administration student at the University. He finished the 10km race with a time of 34 minutes, 15 seconds to rank 20th out of 69 athletes who completed the race.
Aziz expressed gratitude to the Management of the Sports Directorate for the opportunity and remarked that the experience gained in Kenya had built his confidence and enthusiasm to do more at training to improve his time.
Ishmael Offeh Acheampong also a UG-PAAS beneficiary and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and Geography) student ranked 43rd with a time of 37 minutes 20 seconds.
Mr. William Awunime Akuka, the Athletics Coach (Middle and Long Distance) was happy with the level of performance his athletes showed on the day and their ranking in the Championship. He highlighted that running on an international standard Cross-Country route will enhance their experience.
“I am happy for the performance they showed on the day. The loops and obstacles in the route have given them a taste of an international standard Cross-Country route. They worked hard though the altitude was very high and challenging. I know this experience will serve them well as we prepare for other championships in the future”, he stated.
The pair will join their teammates from 28th November 2021 to commence camping ahead of the 27th Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games to be hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi in 2022.
UG Contingent at the 5th FASU Cross Country Championship