The podium finishers displaying their dummy cheques
Long-distance runner William Amponsah and Lariba Sakat raced spiritedly to finish first in the maiden Good Day Energy Drink Cross Country on Sunday.
The marathoner won the men’s event completing the 12 kilometre course in 38.40, well ahead of Koogo Atta in second place (40.10), with Awuni Samuel coming in third place time of 40.51.
Elated Amponsah said after the race that he foresaw winning the race after registering.
He is considered as Ghana’s leading long-distance athlete and currently holds the national record in the Half Marathon after notching the milestone when he competed at the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon in July.
In 2017, he finished second in the national 5,0000m race and he is the national record holder in the 21km race.
The female category saw Lariba Sakat dominating the women’s race from start to finish, in 47.47.
Titi Rosina in second place, and Sherifa Moro, in third place finished with times of 52.24 and 53.05 respectively.
It was another comprehensive victory for the National Cross Country Champion, Lariba this year, having also won the 2021 Asante Akyem Marathon in September.
For their efforts, Amponsah and Lariba both pocketed GH¢5,000 for finishing first, while the runners up in both the men’s and women’s race received GH¢3,000 apiece.
The third-place finishers also received GH¢1,500, with the other participants taking home souvenirs, cases of Good Day Energy Drinks, T-shirts, and certificates of participation.
It started along the Berekuso-Ashesi University road and ended at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi.