Ghana’s sprint king, Edwin Kwabla Gadayi, is primed and ready to defend his 100 metres crown when West Africa’s finest athletes descend on the University of Ghana Stadium for the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region II Senior Championships.

The two-day meet, originally slated for August 15–16, has been rescheduled to August 18–19 following three days of national mourning in honour of eight government officials and Ghana Airforce crew who perished in last week’s tragic helicopter crash. A state funeral will be held on Friday, August 15, in Accra.

For Gadayi, the 2024 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Male Athlete of the Year, the change in dates does not alter the mission to keep his 100m title on home tracks. 

“I’m well prepared and looking forward to defending my title — to repeat what I did last year. That’s my expectation and I’m working hard towards it,” he told the Graphic Sports in a telephone interview.

The 24-year-old blazed to glory at last year’s edition, clocking an electrifying 10.07 seconds to beat Nigeria’s Israel Oko and Mali’s Sissoko Fode in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

He returns to the track fresh from a hard-fought bronze medal in the 200m at the star-studded Nigerian Athletics Championships in Lagos last week, a meet that featured global names including women’s 100m hurdles world record-holder Tobi Amusan. Gadayi clocked 20.85 seconds in the final, behind African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie, who stormed to a personal best of 20.62s.

“It was special because all their top US-based sprinters were there. It was tough,” Gadayi said. “But I didn’t give up. I knew I could face such challenges, so I embraced them. It was fun and a great experience.”

Now, the Ghanaian speedster is calling for the nation’s backing as he bids to defend his crown on home soil.

“I’m appealing to Ghanaians to come to the Legon Stadium in their numbers to support us. It shouldn’t be only football that they get behind.

Track and field needs the same energy. Let’s make it a great atmosphere,” he urged.