The roar of the crowd, the starting pistol’s sharp crack – the pursuit of speed is heating up in Ghana. With the World Athletics Championships in Japan just over a year away, Ghana Athletics is contemplating a pivotal decision: holding national trials to select the nation’s top sprinters. The potential trials, possibly coinciding with the national championship in August 2025, hinge on a crucial factor: the number of athletes who meet the stringent qualifying standards. The ultimate goal is clear: to assemble the strongest possible team of Ghana sprinters to compete on the world stage at the World Championship.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce, as several Ghanaian athletes edge closer to the coveted qualifying marks. The question now is, how will Ghana ensure that it sends its most formidable representatives to the global arena?

Ghana Athletics is seriously considering a national trial to determine which sprinters will earn the right to represent the nation at the World Championships. Bawa Fuseini, president of Ghana Athletics, explained that the national championship in August 2025 could serve as the proving ground. The determining factor will be the number of athletes who manage to hit the World Championships qualifying mark. “There is going to be a national championship in August, where we will have the final selection for the World Championships in Japan (September 2025). We are praying and hoping that we will get more than three athletes qualifying for the 100m event,” Fuseini stated, highlighting the importance of a deep pool of talent.

The benchmark for the 100m event at the World Championships is a blistering 10 seconds. This is the time Ghana sprinters need to beat to stake their claim. While it’s a demanding standard, several Ghanaian athletes are knocking on the door, demonstrating the nation’s growing potential in track and field. Meeting this qualifying standard isn’t merely about bragging rights; it’s the key that unlocks the opportunity to participate in the highly anticipated national trials.

A constellation of talented Ghana sprinters is currently making waves, each vying for a coveted spot. Here are some of the top contenders:

Leading the charge is Benjamin Azamati, Ghana’s record holder, whose recent performance at the Desert Heat Classics, clocking in at 10.02 seconds, underscores his potential for the World Championships. Then there’s Abdul Rashid Saminu, who achieved a wind-assisted 9.87 seconds at the Florida Relays. While wind-assisted times aren’t eligible for official qualification, it offers a tantalizing glimpse of his raw speed.

Joseph Paul Amoah, a consistent performer, ran 10.21s at the Morgan State Legacy Meet. He also led Ghana’s relay team to qualify for the World Championships, demonstrating his value as both an individual competitor and a team player. Rounding out the list of top contenders is Ibrahim Fuseini, a rising star who clocked 10.03 in Texas. Fuseini was named Most Outstanding Performer after winning multiple gold medals at East Texas A&M University, signaling his arrival on the national stage.

The rationale behind potentially holding national trials is multi-faceted. The primary aim is to ensure fair competition and select the very best athletes to represent Ghana. This process would also involve bringing foreign-based athletes back to Ghana to compete on home soil, raising the stakes and generating excitement within the Ghanaian sporting community.

Ghana Athletics is taking cues from other athletic powerhouses. Fuseini noted that countries like Nigeria, the United States, Australia, and South Africa consistently hold national trials to select their teams. “If there are more than three, then we would have to bring all our foreign athletes to come to Ghana, and do national trials just like how Nigerians do it, the United States, Australia, and South Africa. They always bring their top athletes to come down to compete. That is why we also want to do it in Ghana,” he explained. This approach ensures that the selection process is transparent and merit-based.

The coming months promise to be a period of intense preparation and anticipation for Ghana sprinters. If more than three athletes meet the qualifying standard, the national trials will be confirmed, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. This decision is expected to generate even greater competition and excitement within the Ghanaian sprinting community as the nation gears up for the World Championships in Japan.

Ghana’s sprinters are pushing their limits, striving to qualify for the World Championships, and national trials are looming. The performances of athletes like Azamati, Saminu, Amoah, and Fuseini point to a bright future for Ghanaian athletics. The decision to potentially hold national trials reflects a deep commitment to selecting the best possible team to represent Ghana on the world stage and to nurturing athletic development across the nation.