Beu on athletics scholarship to US

FORMER Goroka Grammar School student Leonie Beu will leave tomorrow for the United States (US) where she will take up an athletics scholarship at Could County Community College in Concordia, Kansas.
The 22-year-old, from Sappa village in Huon-Gulf, Morobe, won medals in all three sprint events at last year’s Samoa Pacific Games as well as gold in the 4x400m and silver in the 4x100m.
It was her clocking of 55.71 seconds in the 400m which drew the attention of college coaches in the US and Beu was offered a scholarship by Cloud County which will cover her tuition fees and provide a little towards her living expenses.
After completing Grade 10 at Busu Secondary School in Lae, Beu moved to Goroka’s National Sports Institute in 2018 to join the national athletics squad in preparation for the Pacific Games under coach Dior Lowry.
Athletics Papua New Guinea president Tony Green thanked the Goroka Grammar director Paddy Kelly for his support by way of a significant discount on school fees which enabled Beu and distance runner Simbai Kaspar to complete their education whilst preparing for the Games.
Beu will be joined by her long-time training partner Isila Apkup, from Waskuk village, Ambunti.
The pair have been training together since Dec 2017 when Apkup relocated to Lae upon completion of her secondary education.
She had been identified at the 2014 PNG Games when she finished third in the 400m, clocking what was an impressive time for a 15-year-old (61.83 seconds).