02/04/2026
*MFANTSIPIM EXTENDS DYNASTY AS SAMMO SHS REWRITES HISTORY IN ZONE 3 CHAMPIONSHIP*
History was made. Records were extended. Champions were crowned. At the just-ended Central Regional Schools and Colleges Zone 3 Athletics Championship, one name continued to echo dominance: Mfantsipim School. The powerhouse boys’ team delivered yet another commanding performance, securing their 6th consecutive title and their 15th overall championship, reaffirming their legacy as the undisputed kings of Zone 3 athletics.
Despite their dominance, the championship also witnessed moments of sheer resilience as national 400m leader and World U 20 Championship bound Jonathan Ofori Nkrumah battled through injury to break Paul Acquah’s long standing 1995 400m record. His teammate Godfred Essandoh added to the brilliance by breaking Emmanuel Tuckson’s 2023 400m hurdles record, sealing an emphatic statement for Mfantsipim.
Mfantsipim did not just win, they outclassed the competition with a massive 201 points, leaving their closest rivals St Augustine’s College trailing at 148 points, while Effutu SHS followed with 142 points. UPSHS placed fourth with 37 points and Jukwaa SHS completed the top five with 20 points. Their consistency across sprints, jumps, and relays proved too strong, showcasing depth, discipline, and elite preparation.
While Mfantsipim dominated the boys’ division, the girls’ division delivered a historic breakthrough led by SAMMO Senior High School. The rising powerhouse stunned the athletics scene by clinching the title with 208 points, becoming the first private school ever to win a Central Region athletics championship. Effutu SHS pushed closely with 204 points, while Wesley Girls High School finished third with 108 points. Holy Child School placed fourth with 55 points and Jukwaa SHS finished fifth with 33 points.
SAMMO’s victory was not just about winning, it was about rewriting history. US bound Portia Nkrumah led the charge with a sensational performance, winning the 200m and 400m, placing second in the long jump, and breaking the 400m hurdles record. Form Two athlete Christiana Aboagye delivered a historic double by breaking Rebecca Enchil’s 1993 3000m record and Grace Ewusi’s 1500m record from last year, while Form One sensation Nelly Gyasi broke Grace Ewusi’s 800m record from last year, announcing the arrival of a new generation of middle distance stars.
Helena Ayensu produced one of the most dominant individual performances of the championship, winning the 100m, long jump, triple jump, and 100m hurdles, and breaking Matina Baffoe’s 2001 long jump record, Christiana Kore’s 2012 100m hurdles record, and Sandra S Konadu’s triple jump record. SAMMO’s dominance extended into the relays, where they broke the 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m records, bringing their total to an astonishing 11 broken records across the championship.
Individual brilliance also stood out as Kofi Akyeabo of Mfantsipim School earned boys’ best athlete honors after winning the 100m and 200m and placing second in the long jump, while Helena Ayensu of SAMMO SHS claimed girls’ best athlete after her victories in the 100m, 100m hurdles, long jump, and triple jump.
This championship was more than competition, it was a statement of evolution in school athletics. Mfantsipim continues to set the gold standard of excellence, while SAMMO SHS has broken barriers and inspired a new generation, proving that private schools are now a serious force in regional athletics. The Central Region is fast becoming a breeding ground for elite athletic talent.
From dominance to disruption, the 2026 Zone 3 Championship delivered legacy, history, and the rise of new champions. The throne remains with Mfantsipim, but the future has arrived, and it is fiercely competitive.