Report: 2022 Maaron Championship
The inaugural edition of the Maaron Championship was successfully organised on Saturday, 27th August 2022 at Nandom, Upper West Region.
The organisation of the race just took about two weeks in preparation just after the official launch of the Maaron Initiative and High Morale Athletics Academy but the turn-out was overwhelming.
The race was categorised into two – the juniors covered a distance of 3km and the seniors on the other hand also completed a 10km route. The nature of the 3km route passed through the center of Nandom but the 10km route stretched to the outskirts of Nandom city and back to the centre of the city again.
The weather was very perfect for any distance running and all the athletes enjoyed the serene atmosphere as well. The spectators on the other hand cheered the athletes up as a source of motivation.
In total, 187 athletes registered from different regions across Ghana. The junior’s recorded a total number of 89 participants from the various schools whilst the senior’s field – 98 participants- was packed with some of Ghana National Athletes, Milo Marathon, Millennium Marathon winners and ECOWAS CAA Region II medalists.
The junior 3km race commenced around 6:30am and the first male athlete crossed the finish line in less than 13 minutes while the first female athlete also cruised to the finish in under 16 minutes.
In the senior division, both categories started together with a very swift pace but in the long distance events “the race is not for the swifter’s but who can go far”. The first male athlete used 31:45.00 to complete the 10km route while her other female counterpart also finished in a time of 37:22.68. There was a missed reactions amongst the fans as they marveled how a lady out ran most of the men and in general she place 6 overall participants.
All the winners have automatically set course records because it’s the maiden edition.
The 2022 Maaron Championship was organised by Maaron Initiative in collaboration with High Morale Athletics Club.
The athletes and coaches were all thrilled about how the inaugural event was being oraganised.
“I am going to train hard and prepare for next year’s race” one athlete said.
“If this competition becomes a yearly race it will help us a lot, because you will train the athletes for a whole a year and no competition. The organisers have really done well”, Nandom Senior High School’s Coach Thomas Acquinas disclosed.
School of the deaf in Wa athletes also took part and their athletes performed very well. While in the female category, Diana Kuutegbr a Ghanaian National Female Para-Athlete also competed in the 3km race and she placed sixth overall.
Some of the dignitaries present were, the Elder Brother of the Paramount Chief of Nandom Traditional Area, the Paramount Queen Mother of Nandom Traditional Area, Chairman of Maaron Initiative Naa Frederick Noble Baada, Former Ghana National Athletics Coach John Ali Atia, Regent Polkuu Fred Chiir, and Ali Aminu Seidu.
The Nandom Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Police Service, the Nandom Township and the Traditional Council also supported the event in kind.
3km Ladies Winners
- Tatier Felicia – 15:05.03
- Kaabe Mercy – 15:51.09
- Saa-Ime Lucy – 16:31.87
3km Boys Winners
- Welpuo Collins – 12:54.09
- Nuobaar Kingsley – 13:01.87
- Mwina-Naa Francis – 13:14.70
10km Women’s Top 3
- Titi Rosina – 37:22.68
- Segbobr Belinda – 39:10.41
- Abdulai Ramata – 39:22.69
10km Men’s Top 3
- David Nakousi – 31:45.00
- Alobig Hamza – 33:38.50
- Haruna Gyibril – 36:12.16