Following a successful programme at South Plains College in Texas, Poro Gahekave has relocated just 26 miles to the east at Lubbock Christian University where she recently secured a full scholarship for two years to run track and cross country. Gahekave, who first represented PNG at the age of 14 in the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa where she won the inaugural steeplechase gold medal was PNG’s most successful track and field athlete at the recent Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu, winning two gold and two silver medals. Her performances at South Plains College over the last couple of years caught the attention of LCU Head Coach Nick Cordes who was delighted to recruit her and he said recently that “through our recruiting of Poro, we found her to be an amazing young woman. Since arriving on campus, she quickly fitted in very well with the team and has been a real pleasure to be around. We look forward to helping guide Poro to new fitness levels and personal best times”
Gahekave, who is of mixed New Ireland and Eastern Highland parentage is studying economics and chose LCU over other schools because it is a small campus and a Christian University. “With less than 2000 full-time students and a student/teacher ratio of 13 to 1 it is easy to see why Poro enjoys being at LCU” said APNG Secretary Philip Rehder . “She recently commented that everyone she interacts with knows her by name and she is not just a number, and went on to say that the people there are very friendly and her professors and coaches are delightful people to work with”
“Coming to the US to study and compete for a College is a journey for me, said Gahekave. There have been hard times on the way but I always look on the positive side and towards the future. There have been times where people say I couldn’t make it to where I am right now but one person that always care about the PNG athletes is Tony Green (Athletics PNG President) He is the one that is always there no matter how hard things get. I thank him for always supporting all the athletes including myself”
P Rehder
Secretary Athletics PNG
Last Modified on 12/03/2018 04:10