Kofi Okyir (born 7 June 1951) is a Ghanaian former

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

. A specialist sprinter, Okyir ran for

Angelo State University Angelo State University is a public university in San Angelo, Texas. It was founded in 1928 as San Angelo College. It gained university status and awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in 1967 and graduate degrees in 1969, the same year it too ...

in Texas and was a teammate of Ghanaian long jumper

Joshua Owusu Joshua Owusu (born October 2, 1948) is a retired Olympic track and field athlete from Ghana. He specialised in the triple jump and the long jump events during his career. Owusu represented Ghana at the 1972 Olympic Games where he finishe ...

, who he grew up with in

Kumasi Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie or Coomassie, usually spelled Kumase in Twi) is a city in the Ashanti Region, and is among the largest metropolitan areas in Ghana. Kumasi is located in a rain forest region near Lake Bosomtwe, and is the ...

and had recommended Okyir to recruiters. Okyir was the NAIA champion in the 100 yard dash in 1973. Okyir won 4 x 100 metres silver medals at the

1973 All-Africa Games The 2nd All-Africa Games – Lagos 1973 were played from January 7, 1973, to January 18, 1973, in Lagos, Nigeria. After the success of the first African Games, the organizing bodies awarded the second games to Bamako, Mali to be held in 1969. A ...

and

1974 British Commonwealth Games The 1974 British Commonwealth Games ( mi, 1974 Taumāhekeheke Commonwealth) were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The Games were off ...

. He holds the African record for the 100 yard dash, setting a mark of 9.40 seconds in Austin in 1974.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Okyir, Kofi 1951 births Living people Ghanaian male sprinters Athletes (track and field) at the 1973 All-Africa Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games African Games silver medalists for Ghana Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Ghana African Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics Angelo State Rams athletes Sportspeople from Kumasi Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games