Unpacking Ghana’s top five 100m sprinters

As World Athletics released its latest rankings on March 18, the spotlight once again falls on the electrifying world of sprinting. Le Press Box delves into the data to bring you the definitive rundown of Ghana’s top five male athletes dominating the 100m dash.

Benjamin Azamati has started 2025 with impressive momentum. The Ghanaian sprinter secured a silver medal in the 60m dash at the New Mexico Team Open in early February.

Despite a sixth-place finish in the preliminaries with a time of 6.70 seconds, Azamati demonstrated his competitive spirit by shaving off 0.08 seconds in the final, clocking in at 6.62 seconds to claim second place ahead of Jekovan Rhetta.

His February campaign continued with a near-podium finish at the Millrose Games, where his 6.63-second run in the 60m saw him finish just shy of the top three.

Azamati then struck gold at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, showcasing his winning capabilities with a consistent 6.61-second performance in both the preliminary and final rounds, besting PJ Ize-Iyamu and Jacob Holguin.

These strong performances have positioned Azamati as a significant contender, currently ranking ninth in Africa and 36th globally in the men’s 100m rankings.

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu has enjoyed a sensational start to the year, establishing himself as a formidable force in the 60m sprint.

He kicked off his 2025 campaign with a gold medal at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, USA, clocking an impressive 6.59 seconds in the final after a strong comeback from the semi-finals.

Saminu continued his golden streak at the Crimson Elite event, securing another first-place finish with a consistent time of 6.63 seconds in both the heats and the final.

He then dominated the preliminary round of the 60m at the Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational before unfortunately being unable to compete in the final.

Undeterred, Saminu roared back to claim another gold at the Badgers Windy City Invite, improving from 6.64 seconds in the preliminary round to a blistering 6.57 seconds in the final.

His golden run continued at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he secured yet another victory in the 60m with a time of 6.58 seconds.

Saminu capped off his indoor season with a personal best of 6.53 seconds in the final of the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, narrowly missing out on a podium finish in fourth place.

His stellar performances have propelled him to 11th in Africa and 42nd globally in the men’s 100m rankings. Notably, Saminu also holds the distinction of being Ghana’s highest-ranked 200m sprinter, sitting 10th in Africa and 38th worldwide.

Isaac Botsio’s 2025 began at the Texas Tech Red Raider Invitational, where he initially showed promise with a second-place finish in his 60m heat. However, he couldn’t replicate that performance in the final, finishing eighth.

Botsio faced further challenges at the Jarvis Scott Open, where despite a strong first-place finish in his heat, he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the finals after a slightly slower run in the semi-final.

His final competition before the latest rankings, the Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, saw him start strong with a heat victory, but unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the final.

Despite these setbacks, Botsio’s earlier performances have placed him firmly within Ghana’s top three for the men’s 100m, currently ranked 16th in Africa and 76th globally.

It’s worth noting that since these rankings were released, Botsio has bounced back, claiming gold in the men’s 100m at the West Texas Relays and being part of the victorious West Texas A&M men’s 4x100m team, suggesting a strong return to form.

Joseph Paul Amoah has featured in just one event so far this year, the 60m at the Penn State National Open.

He made a strong impression in his heat, securing first place with a time of 6.70 seconds. However, he didn’t advance to the finals.

Despite limited competition in 2025, Amoah’s previous achievements keep him within Ghana’s top echelon of sprinters.

He currently holds the 26th position in Africa and 116th globally in the men’s 100m rankings. Amoah also occupies the second spot in Ghana’s 200m rankings, sitting 13th in Africa and 64th worldwide.

Barnabas Aggerh has made a notable climb in the latest World Athletics rankings, moving up to fifth place and surpassing compatriot Ibrahim Fuseini.

His 2025 began with a gold medal-winning performance in the 60m at the Commodore Challenge, where he set a personal best of 6.52 seconds after topping his heat in 6.66 seconds.

Aggerh continued his impressive form at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. He comfortably won his heat in the 60m with a time of 6.69 seconds before facing fellow Ghanaian Mustapha Alufar Bokpin in the final. Aggerh once again emerged victorious, clocking 6.53 seconds to secure the gold medal.

These consistent performances have seen Aggerh rise to 31st in Africa and 141st globally in the men’s 100m rankings, solidifying his place among Ghana’s sprinting elite.

This snapshot of Ghana’s top five male 100m sprinters reveals a wealth of talent and dedication. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these athletes continue to perform and climb the global rankings, undoubtedly inspiring a new generation of Ghanaian athletes.