Benjamin Azamati-Kwaku

Benjamin Azamati-Kwaku (born 14 January 1998) is a Ghanaian sprinter, who currently competes at West Texas A&M University.

Benjamin Azamati-Kwaku
Personal information
NationalityGhanaian
Born (1998-01-14) 14 January 1998
Akim Oda
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
CountryGhana
SportAthletics
Event(s)100 m, 200 m
College teamWest Texas A&M University
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • 100 m: 9.90 (2022, NR)
200 m: 20.13 (2021)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Ghana
African Games
2019 Rabat4×100 m relay

He made history by breaking a 22-year national record held by Leo Myles Mills on 26 March 2021 in Texas by clocking 9.97 seconds to qualify him for the Tokyo Summer Olympics. [1]

Mustafa Ussif, the Sports Minister and Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, the Director of the University of Ghana Sports Directorate, congratulated Benjamin Azamati on the national feat. [2]

Early life and education


Azamati was born on 14 January 1998 to John and Faustina Azamati in Akim oda, Ghana.[3]

His preferred sport growing up was football, but transitioned to athletics while attending Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School in Accra where his running talent was discovered by his PE masters (Nathaniel Botchway, Gideon Dukplah and Mr. Kofi Dadzie)[4].

Occupation and honors

As a 21-year old he emerged as an Olympic hopeful for Ghana in the sprints after running 100 metres in 10.02 seconds HT at the 2019 Ghana's Fastest Human competition.[5][6] He won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2019 African Games in Rabat. He won the GUSA 100m on two occasions.

In 2021, he improved the 100m national record with 9.97 and improved his 200m personal best to 20.13.

On 25 March 2022, Azamati improved his own 100m national record to an early world lead of 9.90 seconds in Texas, USA, making him the joint 4th fastest collegiate of all-time with Trayvon Bromell. [7]This mark also placed him within the top 50 all-time 100m sprint performances with only 6 Africans running faster in the continent at the time.[8]

Personal bests

Outdoor
  • 100 metres - 9.90 (+2.0 m/s, Texas 2022)
  • 200 metres - 20.13 (+1.1 m/s, Texas 2021)

Indoor
  • 60 metres - 6.54 ( Albuquerque 2022)
  • 200 metres - 20.57 (Texas 2022)

References
  1. "Leo Myles Mills reacts to Benjamin Azamati's 100m national record". GhanaWeb. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. "Sports Minister, University of Ghana congratulate Benjamin Azamati on new 100m record – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  3. "Athletics – Benjamin Azamati Kwaku (Ghana)". www.the-sports.org. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. "Athletics – Benjamin Azamati Kwaku (Ghana)". www.the-sports.org. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. "Benjamin Azamati: Ghana's Beacon of Hope In Athletics". Kwesilive.com. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. "USTFCCCA InfoZone: Records and Lists ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. "100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
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