Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Ampomah, Amponsah Qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics
7/11/2016 11:39:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Former Middle Tennessee standout John Ampomah along with current Blue Raider runner, Janet Amponsah, have qualified for the Olympic games in Rio after hitting the IAAf qualifying standards at Soga-Nana Memorial meet at the Cape Coast Stadium.
"With what I have done in the Olympics for the United States and my feelings about competing for your country, I am thrilled that these two both made it (John Ampomah and Janet Amponsah)," said Middle Tennessee head coach Dean Hayes.
Ampomah, who finished third at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin and second in the javelin at the Senior African Championships, recorded a throw of 83.09 meters (272-7) at Cape Coast Stadium Friday. His throw is ranked as the 34th best qualifying throw for the Olympics in 2016.
"John has worked really hard and has done a good job working with other athletes and good to know that someone like that, who is the leader of your team, will be able to make it to the highest level of competition, which in this case is the Olympics," said Hayes.
The Ghana native's throw also broke his own national record, which he previously set at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville with a throw of 82.94 meters.
In addition to the javelin sensation, Amponsah, who is labeled the Ghanaian sprint queen, qualified in the 200 meters after running a personal-best 22.99 seconds in the event.
According to Road-To-Rio.com, Amponsah is the 47th fastest time to have qualified for the Olympics in the women's 200 meter.
"Janet (Amponsah) will be eligible this winter for indoor track and we are looking forward to having her here to help our team," said Hayes. "She works very hard and has studied hard to get herself right academically. With what she has done academically and athletically I am very proud of her."
Amponsah was also the anchor leg in Ghana's 4x100-meter relay, which recorded the eighth fastest time in the world in 2016, while also being ranked the 15th qualified team for Rio in a national-record 42.67 seconds.
"In addition to qualifying individually (in the 200 meters), she has qualified on the 4x100-meter relay as well," Hayes stated. "They (the 4x100-meter relay) had worked hard all year but had some struggles throughout the year too. After their finish at the All-African Championships, the group put in a ton of work together to beat a very good team in Ivory Coast."
Ampomah and Amponsah are the first Blue Raiders to compete in the Olympics since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Samuel Adade (4x100, Alt.), Tanko Braimah (4x100) and Chrisitan Nsiah (4x100) all competed for Ghana in the 4x100-meter relay.
Andrew Owusu, who was a graduate student at Middle Tennessee on an academic fellowship and later became a coach for the Blue Raiders, competed in the triple jump for Ghana.
"It is a great reward for two people that work very hard and are very deserving of this kind of honor," said Hayes.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio are slated to start August 5th.
"With what I have done in the Olympics for the United States and my feelings about competing for your country, I am thrilled that these two both made it (John Ampomah and Janet Amponsah)," said Middle Tennessee head coach Dean Hayes.
Ampomah, who finished third at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin and second in the javelin at the Senior African Championships, recorded a throw of 83.09 meters (272-7) at Cape Coast Stadium Friday. His throw is ranked as the 34th best qualifying throw for the Olympics in 2016.
"John has worked really hard and has done a good job working with other athletes and good to know that someone like that, who is the leader of your team, will be able to make it to the highest level of competition, which in this case is the Olympics," said Hayes.
The Ghana native's throw also broke his own national record, which he previously set at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville with a throw of 82.94 meters.
In addition to the javelin sensation, Amponsah, who is labeled the Ghanaian sprint queen, qualified in the 200 meters after running a personal-best 22.99 seconds in the event.
According to Road-To-Rio.com, Amponsah is the 47th fastest time to have qualified for the Olympics in the women's 200 meter.
"Janet (Amponsah) will be eligible this winter for indoor track and we are looking forward to having her here to help our team," said Hayes. "She works very hard and has studied hard to get herself right academically. With what she has done academically and athletically I am very proud of her."
Amponsah was also the anchor leg in Ghana's 4x100-meter relay, which recorded the eighth fastest time in the world in 2016, while also being ranked the 15th qualified team for Rio in a national-record 42.67 seconds.
"In addition to qualifying individually (in the 200 meters), she has qualified on the 4x100-meter relay as well," Hayes stated. "They (the 4x100-meter relay) had worked hard all year but had some struggles throughout the year too. After their finish at the All-African Championships, the group put in a ton of work together to beat a very good team in Ivory Coast."
Ampomah and Amponsah are the first Blue Raiders to compete in the Olympics since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Samuel Adade (4x100, Alt.), Tanko Braimah (4x100) and Chrisitan Nsiah (4x100) all competed for Ghana in the 4x100-meter relay.
Andrew Owusu, who was a graduate student at Middle Tennessee on an academic fellowship and later became a coach for the Blue Raiders, competed in the triple jump for Ghana.
"It is a great reward for two people that work very hard and are very deserving of this kind of honor," said Hayes.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio are slated to start August 5th.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
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