Sunyani,(B/A), Feb. 27 GNA - The Ghana Armed Forces and the Central Region emerged the overall winners in the men and women's division respectively of the 27th edition of the National Cross Country Championship race which ended at Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo regional capital.

The competition featured 10 member teams representing the 10 administrative regions, six security services, representatives of the Ghana Polytechnic Sports Association (GHASPA), paraded 180 runners comprising 108 males and 72 females.

In the men's category, the Ghana Armed Forces picked 25 points to beat Ashanti Region who scored 45 to place second, whilst the Police Service obtained 59 points to take the third position.

The Central Region won the first position in the girls division with 10 points, followed by the Ashanti Region who had 13 points whilst the Brong - Ahafo Region managed to grab the third position with 47 points. The overall winners made up of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Central Region teams were all presented with a trophy and certificates of merit, whilst the first runners up and the second runners were also presented with certificates of merit.

Thirty-one year old David Zigah of the Ghana Immigration Service won the men's race which covered a distance of 12 kilometres with a time of 39 minutes 57 seconds, and was followed by Captain Lamboron of the Ghana Armed Forces in a time of 40 minutes 14 seconds while Akuka W. Awinime of the Ashanti Region took the third position with a time of 40 minutes 18 seconds. Veteran cross country champion Zigah, who was drenched in sweat after the race told GNA Sports in an interview he did not find the competition tough, since "I have participated in other competitions such as the Milo marathons as well as the Singapore Full Marathon last year".

"I'm not surprised at winning this race at all. I placed 24th out of 50,000 athletes in the Singapore competition. I had trained hard and watched Gabriel Selassie perform as my mentor. I would therefore like to urge the young ones against the use of drugs as it has negative impact on their health", he stated.

The female runners covered a distance of eight kilometres with Elizabeth Bortsor, a 17 year -old school girl of the Bessase Senior High School in the Central Region, emerging the winner with a time of 32 minutes 21 seconds overcoming her rival, Rita Luonab, 16, from the Ashanti Region who took the second position with a time of 32 minutes 48 seconds while Vivian Febiri, 17, also from the Ashanti Region placed third on 32 minutes 50 seconds.

"I was amazed to win the race even though I had train hard. I have also tried to beat past national records and I had to work harder when I was at the basic school", Elizabeth told the GNA Sports later in an interview. Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister in an address to the athletes after the event,, urged the youth to desist from indulging in drugs and other social vices and eschew laziness in order to fulfil their dreams.

Professor Francis Duodu, Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association, noted that there was a great future and prospects for athletics in the country following the talents exhibited in the competition. He said in order to take the development of sports far, the Ghana Olympic Committee has developed three pillars aimed at achieving these objectives which include incorporating youth development into the national teams, building medical aspects of sports particularly for women in sports and getting more trainers' courses for local coaches to upgrade their knowledge. 27 Feb. 10