Former national sprint champion, Benjamin Azamati, has responded with pride and encouragement after Abdul-Rasheed Saminu shattered his long-standing 100m national record with a blistering run of 9.86 seconds at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
The University of South Florida sprinter did not only eclipse Azamati’s 2022 record of 9.90 seconds but also became the fastest man in the world this year, edging closer to NCAA history and stamping his ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Reacting to the news on Sporty FM, Azamati, who had been Ghana’s sprint king for three years, said he’s proud to see the bar being raised and believes it’s a reflection of the growing talent in the country.
“Records are meant to be broken, and it just goes to show the level of talent we have in Ghana,” he said.
While many would feel disappointed to lose a record, Azamati views it as a moment of motivation and evolution for Ghanaian athletics.
He also emphasised that competition should always be rooted in excellence and a shared desire to uplift the country on the world stage.
“I’m just proud of the role I played in raising the standards, and seeing someone step up will motivate me. It’s just about performing at the highest level and representing the country with excellence,” he added.
Saminu’s time of 9.86 seconds not only broke Ghana’s national record but also placed him just 0.04 seconds behind Christian Coleman’s all-time NCAA mark of 9.82.
His sensational form now places him among the top contenders heading into the World Championships this September.
Interestingly, Saminu credits a conversation with Azamati as part of the fuel behind his achievement.
In an interview with 3Sports, he revealed that he spoke to Azamati who pushed him for the record.
“Me and Azamati talked about it. I said I need to break your record this year. He was like, go for it. If you really want it, go for it. So, I was like, okay, I’m ready,” he recalled.
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