Sprint coach Elorm Amenakpor believes the early qualification of Ghana’s fastest man, Benjamin Azamati, for the World Athletics Championships will provide a vital advantage as preparations intensify ahead of the global event in September.
Azamati, Ghana’s national 100m record holder, secured his qualification after clocking an impressive 9.98 seconds at the McNab Sprint Series on Thursday, a performance that underlined his rapid progression this season.
The Ghanaian sprinter reached the semi-finals of the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, building on a series of strong performances in the heats. Since then, Azamati has made significant adjustments to his professional setup, including changes to his coaching team and training base.
Now under the guidance of renowned athletics coach John Bolton, Azamati has relocated to California, a move that is already yielding tangible results. The change in environment, coupled with refined training methods, has seen the sprinter elevate his performances consistently throughout the ongoing outdoor season.
Azamati’s progression has been evident in his steadily improving times, having clocked 10.12s, 10.07s, 10.02s, 9.93s, and most recently 9.98s, demonstrating both form and consistency against high-level competition.
“Ben has put in a lot of work this season. When you look at his trajectory and his outdoor season stats, he keeps improving race after race,” Amenakpor told Sport Blitz 360.
“Running that time gives him relief because he has already booked qualification, which allows him more room to prepare ahead of the Championships in September. Every athlete wants that early qualification,” he added.
Amenakpor believes the early qualification removes pressure and allows Azamati and his team to focus on fine-tuning technical details, race execution, and peak conditioning ahead of the World Championships.
Azamati’s sub-10-second performance has now set the tone for what promises to be a major season for Ghana’s sprint star, with expectations rising as he continues his upward trajectory on the global stage.
