Track & Field News of Saturday, 24 July 2004

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Ghanaian Athletes Improve In IAAF Rankings

Ghana?s Aziz Zakari has been ranked the 10th best sprinter according to in the world according to a recent ranking released by the International Athletic Federation.

Aziz who has been active on the European tour is three places behind resurging Olympic champion Maurice Greene.

USA?s Shawn Crawford leads the pack of top 100 sprinters with World Champion Kim Collins in third place.

Eric Nkansah also climbed to 24th place ahead of former greats Ato Boldon, Frankie Fredericks and Obadele Thompson.

In the women?s ranking, Ghana?s sprint sensation Vida Anim is ranked 19th, one place behind 2000 gold medallist Marion Jones.

Anim is the highest ranked African athlete ahead of Nigerian Endurance Olokojo.

Away from the tracks, one of Ghana?s real medal contenders for the upcoming Olympics, Margaret Simpson, is ranked 5th in the Women?s Heptathlon.

She jumped five places from her previous 10th after winning gold at the African Athletic Championship in Congo.

Ignatius Gaisah is also ranked 3rd in the men?s long jump event.