In what arguably turned out to be the most competitive race at the second leg of the Ghana Athletics Association Circuit Championships held at the Cape Coast stadium on Saturday, 24th February, five athletes dipped below 47s for the first time in their careers in the men’s 400m final.

Central Region’s Duncan Nuakoh Agyemang clocked the fastest 400m time ever by a local athlete in Ghana when he produced a 40m sprint to cross the finish line in a life time best 46.59s (PB).

Agyemang, the reigning Circuit champion, run a decent 200m and run an incredible curve under pressure from Baba Seidu Mohammed in lane 4, before snatching victory from Emmanuel Nimo in lane 8 who had led for most part of the race.

In the process, he broke John O’Brien’s Circuit 400m record of 46.91s set in 2014. But his time was 1.46s short of Ibrahim Hassan’s national 400m record 45.13s (NR) set on 21st April, 1996.

Duncan was followed in second place by Custom’s Daniel Otibo who came from behind to beat Prison’s Emmanuel Nimo in the sprint finish in a time of 46.74s(PB). Nimo settled for third in 46.77s (PB).
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s Prince Charles Frimpong took fourth with 46.81(PB), followed by Police’s Baba Seidu Mohammed with 46.99(PB).

Even though the day belonged to Duncan Agyemang, it is also important to note the various roles played by the other competitors which led to the uncompromising sprint finish.

Duncan will particularly be happy for the stiff opposition he encountered from Baba Seidu Mohammed, coupled with the early lead of Prison’s Emmanuel Nimo in lane 8.

A student of the University of Cape Coast, this marked a great improvement over the 47.22s he clocked when he won the 2018 Ghana University Sports Association Games in Tamale last month and the 47.27s he recorded to win the Circuit 400m at the Sekondi Sports stadium on 27th January.

It is instructive to note that the best 400m electronic times recorded locally in Ghana prior to last Saturday’s event had stood in the name of Samuel Yaro’s 46.90s achieved in 2017; the next in line was John O’Brien’s 46.91s in 2014; George Effah’s 46.65s 2015; Daniel Gyasi 46.85s (NJR, 2012) and John O’Brien’s 47.23s in 2016.
There is no telling what Duncan Agyemang and the other four runners can produce giving the right environment and right competitive spirit. They could potentially form the back bone of a formidable men’s 4x400m relay team at the next CAA Senior Championships in Nigeria in August, 2018. Only time will tell.

400m Final
Position Name Performance Affiliation

1.
Duncan Agyemang 46.59 CEN

2.
Daniel Otibo 46.74 CUSTOMS

3.
Emmanuel Nimo 46.77 Prisons

4.
Frimpong Prince Charles 46.81 KNUST

5.
Baba Seidu Mohammed 46.99 POLICE

6.
Abdul Razak 47.04 ASH

7.
Kodjo Acheampong 48.23 POLICE

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