The countdown to this year’s Asante Akyem Marathon keeps whittling down as September 25 edges ever closer, with organisers keen on what to expect on d-day when the 24 kilometre race goes down from Konongo to Agogo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Organised by sports promotion and marketing firm, SportsLife under the auspices of the Ghana Athletics Association Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Yuth and Sports, record prize money is on offer for winners of what will be the fourth event since commencement of the Asante Akyem Marathon in 2017, a 11 km race from Akutuase to Agogo.
Following consequent successful races in 2018 and 2019, both 42 km events, the marathon was cancelled last year due the raging Covid 19 pandemic for which reason the organisers expect not just huge participation numbers but also very high competition for a vastly reduced race length by nearly 20 kilometres.
The winner for this year’s event in the men’s category will walk away with a whooping five thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢5,000), runner-up takes home three thousand (Gh¢3,000), third will receive two thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢2,000) whilst 4th to 10th placed athletes will each earn a consolation of two hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢200).
The females’ category winner will also take home two thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢2,000), second walks away with one thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢1,000), third position gets five hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢500) and a consolation of one hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢100) each for 4th to 10th placed finishers.
For the records, past winners are William Amponsah who is also the Ghana Half Marathon record holder in 2017 which of course was an 1km race.
The second edition in 2018, a 42.2km marathon saw John Kudanu emerge champ whilst Ishmael Arthur took the top spot in the 2019 event, also 42 km.
The female competition has always been shorter than the main race, has been dominated by Elizabeth Azure who has won all the three Asante Akyem Marathons consecutively and will surely be seeking to make it number 4 come September 25.
Meanwhile, registration for the 24km race from Konongo to Agogo is still ongoing. Interested persons should contact 0243845377, 0244210315 or 0201216647 for free registration.
