The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi came alive on Saturday, 15th February 2025, as Ghana Athletics staged its first Open Championship of the year.

The event showcased an impressive display of speed, strength, and endurance, with top athletes from across the country competing in various disciplines.

In the women’s 100m final, Quansah Naseera Efua of Tachyon Athletik Ghana stormed to victory with a time of 11.92s.

She was closely followed by Amanda Christiana Yeboah of Goloe Athletics Club, who finished in 12.27s, while Afriyie Doris from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) claimed third place in 12.59s.

The men’s 100m event saw an exhilarating finish, with Ansah Sarfo from Stagnation edging out Cudjoe Michael of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to secure first place in 10.49s. Joseph Andoh Kwofie of Tachyon Athletik Ghana completed the podium.

In the 200m races, Janet Mensah of Stagnation dominated the women’s category, clocking 24.68s, while 2024 SWAG Athlete of the Year, Edwin Gadayi, sprinted to victory in the men’s race with a time of 21.24s.

The competition extended beyond the track, with athletes also excelling in field events. In the men’s long jump, Otchere Yeboah Mensah of GAF leapt an impressive 7.64m to claim first place.

Acting CEO of Ghana Athletics, Ahmed Baffoe, expressed his delight at the success of the event, stating, “It’s been a very successful day, and we’re looking forward to the next Open Championship in April.”

Athletes were also optimistic about the season ahead. 200m champion Edwin Gadayi noted, “I’m building on last year’s performances and hoping for even greater results this season.”

Meanwhile, 100m winner Ansah Sarfo remained focused on improvement, saying, “This is just the beginning. My goal is to stay injury-free and achieve personal bests in all competitions.”

With the Kumasi leg of the Open Championship concluded, attention now shifts to Cape Coast, where the next edition is scheduled for 5th April 2025. The event is expected to offer another platform for athletes to showcase their talents and fine-tune their performances ahead of major competitions.