Reigning champion William Amponsah is looking at setting a better record this year as he announces his journey to the West to compete in the maiden Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon.

The half marathon race on Saturday will parade the countries most finest marathoners at the western Regional capital but the 21-year-old has vowed to grab the ultimate with an improvement over his reigning 1 hour 4 minutes 38 seconds in last year's Millennium Marathon.

He holds impressive records in a success story that began in 2017 and in an interview with Ghanaguardian's Fiifi Abdul Malik, the boy from Agona Swedru sounded confident to leave a bigger mark in the oil city.

"Training has been good and i am moving to Takoradi early enough to prepare for Saturday," Amponsah said.

"I'm setting a new record. I'm fully prepared and ready to win this  half marathon
"I'm already holding the half marathon record with 1 hour 4 minutes 38 seconds in Millennium marathon 2019 and it is the 21km race we are running on Saturday so am certain it will be better story after the contest."

At age 21, the University of Winneba (UEW) students is currently the most decorated long distance runner in the country and looks set for a new heroic story to be told in the Twin City.

Known for record-breaking feats, Amponsah comes into the maiden Sekondi-Takoradi contest with an impressive track record, making him one of the hottest favourite.

He is the reigning champion and record holder for the 2019 Millenium Marathon.

He is the reigning and record holder for the 10000 and 5000 metre race at the GUSA games.

He is the reigning and record holder at the Kwahu Marathon, a competition he won in 2019.

He also in 2019 set a new record at the 12KM race in the GFSports Cross Country.

The former student of Swedru School came into the limelight when he won the maiden Asante Akyem Marathon in 2017, and has remained a big brand in the country's athletic industry.

Amponsah popularly known as ‘Bones’ is a student of the University of Winneba and a member of the golden boy from Agona Swedru Daakye Runners Club.

About 300 athletes are reported to have registered for the Boxing Day competition in search for Christmas time glory at the country's Citadel of all Christmas celebration.

The 21km race will start at the Sekondi Essipong Staium and end at Amanful, the central business venue of Takoadi.

ABOUT SEKONDI-TAKORADI MARATHON
The Ankos Festival: The Ankos Festival also known as Takoradi street carnival or Masquerade Festival is an annual event celebrated by the people of Takoradi, Ghana.

Its main attraction is dozens of groups of people or teams dressing in wild outfits who display their skills and arts via dance

The Sekondi Takoradi Marathon  has been added to the annual Ankos  festival in the Western regional capital to give it a sporting spice.

In an effort to give the annual Ankos a sporting spice, the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) through its partnership with Medivents Consult and Total Marketing and Tours Limited decided to introduce Marathon into the series of activities making the event.

The aim of the Marathon is to; serve as a platform for unearthing and exhibition of sporting talents in the region especially in the long distances, a channel for fostering peace and unity in the region.
It is also to expose the tourism potentials of the region through the marathon, give the region a unique identity with marathon ie; Boston Marathon, London Marathon, New York Marathon etc, to give a sporting face to the annual Tadi Bronya ie through the organization of marathon, to start the process growing an international marathon for the region.

By Fiifi Abdul Malik @Fiifi_Malik on twitter