SNYDER—Western Texas College is pleased to announce that one of their track and field athletes set a new national record in the 200-meter dash.
James Dadzie won the 200-meter dash with a record time of 19.79 seconds at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout at Texas Tech in Lubbock the last weekend of April. Not only did the international student from Ghana break national and school records, but he has the fastest time in the world this year.
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) thinks highly of him too. They named Dadzie their 2023 Male Regional Track Athlete of the Year.
“All of us at WTC are bursting with pride over these achievements,” said Tammy Davis, Western Texas College Athletic Director. “James made marked improvements with the guidance of his coach, James Williams.”
Williams played an instrumental role in helping Dadzie improve, mainly his issues with starting.
“I was a very poor starter in Ghana, but when I got here, my coach has been able to correct that error so I can really react to the [starter] gun,” Dadzie told TV3 Ghana. “It’s not perfect, but it’s better than what I was doing in Ghana.”
The legendary Coach James Williams also helped former WTC athlete Janet Amponsah break the national women’s record in the 200 meter. Another WTC Track and Field alum, Abigail Kwarteng, plans to make a bid for the 2024 Olympics.
Williams said he feels privileged to have Dadzie and former runners praise him.
“I expect him to be one of the top sprinters in the world for the rest of his career,” Williams told the Snyder Daily News. “He realizes that this was a major achievement for him, but that doesn’t mean that is all he can do and that is our attitude.”
Dadzie’s goals also include running at the Olympic Games—hopefully as early as next year in Paris.
“I just want to make my Dad proud,” Dadzie added. “To be seen on the podium of the Olympic Games receiving a medal has always been my Dad’s dream. It has always been my target to make him proud.”
The Western Texas College Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams compete at the NJCAA National Championships in Hobbs, New Mexico, May 18-20.