Apkup keen on athletics

By ISAAC LIRI
ISILA Apkup will be the first athlete from East Sepik to receive financial assistance directly from the sports office under the provincial government.
This was confirmed by Athletics PNG head coach Dior Lowry about Apkup who has been training at the National Sports Institute in Goroka since last year.
“That support assists in contributing to costs related to residing at the National Sports Institute. APNG encourages this type of government financial circulation for athlete development,” Lowry said.
“We would like to thank East Sepik government through its sports office, teachers at the Brandi Secondary School, Athletics PNG and NSI for helping out our future female prospects,” he added.
Apkup from Waskuk village, Ambunti district, East Sepik, is considered as one of the rising stars who performed well during the 2017 PNG Games in Kimbe.
The 20-year-old got the attention of the East Sepik provincial sports office when she won in the 400m and finished third in the 200m at the Kimbe Games.
She later competed in last year’s national championships and improved her personal best to 58.47 and was on the winning 4x400m relay team. Apkup said her goal was to be an ambassador for the sport, represent the country and give back to the province with her success and knowledge.
Apkup was grateful that her provincial government was supporting her since her parents were subsistence farmers and do not have any formal employment but still support her in any little way they can. “It will mean a lot to me if I represent PNG,” Apkup said.
“My parents are subsistence farmers and try their best to support me because I’m the only one from East Sepik living this dream.
“I want to be like Toea Wisil and I want to travel around the world like other athletes and I am grateful that my family and coaches at NSI are behind me.”
Apkup completed grade 12 at Brandi Secondary School in 2017 and has been involved in athletics since she was in grade 9 (2014) and her first time to represent East Sepik was in the 2014 PNG Games in Lae. Her events are 400m and 200m; her best times are 58.47 in the 400m and 26.63 in the 200m.
Apkup also acknowledged her coach in East Sepik Otto Wafia and the APNG president Tony Green.
Apkup’s chance of making the 2019 Pacific Games squad will depend on her performance in the trials later this month in Kimbe.