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Azamati fired up for Tokyo Games :Books place in 200m
He chalked up the record breaking feat –- and obliterated the existing record of 20.15 sec set in 1992 by Bryan Bridgewater -- just a week after he helped Ghana qualify for the sprints relay at the World Athletics Relays in Silesia, Poland.
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On Saturday, the sprints sensation posted an impressive time of 20.13 seconds to win the 200 metres final of the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Sprints double
The West Texas A&M University star had earlier run 21.12 seconds in the preliminary round, but ensured that he won the final with a time lower than the Olympic qualifying standard of 20.24 seconds.
Last Wednesday, the in-form Ghanaian track star won the 100 metres title in a time of 10.3 seconds to ensure he ended the season winning the sprints double.
It has been a remarkable season for the 23-year-old who set a new national 100m record of 9.97 seconds to secure an automatic place in the Olympics 100m (qualifying standard is 10.05 seconds).
An excited Azamati told the Graphic Sports yesterday that he was looking forward to staying healthy without any injury worries for a busy schedule in Tokyo where he would compete for Ghana in the 100m, 200 and 4x100m.
"I just want to stay healthy before the Olympics. My goal is to get to Tokyo healthy and see how it goes. But I'm still going to be under the same routine with my coach until it is time to go and compete for Ghana," said Azamati who indicated he would be selective in participating in some upcoming competitions ahead of his maiden appearance at the Olympic Games.
Perfecting 200m
Even though he is noted for his prowess over 100m, Ghana's fastest man ever says he is "getting used to the 200m gradually" and would spend time mastering his craft over the longer sprints.
Azamati will be in good company as compatriot Joseph Paul Amoah has also qualified for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
Despite qualifying for the men's 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relay, the Ghanaian quartet was disqualified in the final for lane violation which denied them a medal. He is appealing to the government to ensure the team goes into camp early to improve their craft to avoid such a mistake at the Olympics.
"Mistakes do happen but that [camping together] can change a lot of things," he told Graphic.
The Ghanaian relay team -- which won gold at the 2019 African Games in Rabat -- are scattered in different locations in the USA and in Ghana and only get together for very short times ahead of competitions and, therefore, do not get adequate time to train together.