B’ville pair to study, train in US

By PATRICIA KEAMO
TWO Bougainville athletes will now be able to continue their education and athletics careers through a two-year programme at Cloud County Community College in Kansas, United States.
Jonathan Dende and Alphonse Igish will on Saturday depart for the US – something the pair never expected when they left their homes in Bougainville early last year.
Mentored by National Sports Institute development coach Samu Sasama, the pair have improved since February, 2020, setting personal bests in every competition.
Dende and Igish played other sports before taking up athletics.
Under Sasama, the pair have picked up their performances, making their way up to compete against some of the country’s best athletes.
The 22-year-olds have been inspired by training alongside champion Papua New Guinea sprinter Toea Wisil, who was at the institute earlier this year before leaving for the US.
The pair caught the attention of Sasama who recommended further training in Goroka.
“The boys were just happy to be able to come to Goroka for training and further their education by upgrading their marks through the Department of Open and Distance Learning (DODL) programme,” institute director Janet Gimots said yesterday.
“It was only when Athletics PNG (APNG) president Tony Green suggested after the Grand Prix in Moresby this year that we send them to the US, that we considered this idea and the pair were naturally very excited.”
With pledges of support from regional member for Bougainville Regional MP Peter Tsiamalili Jr and South Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu, things moved quickly and the pair received sponsorship support.
Masiu said Bougainville was looking to send more athletes to the US in partnership with APNG.
Meanwhile, Green said he was impressed with the progress made by the two athletes this year, especially Dende who ran an excellent 400m in Port Moresby, clocking 48.74 seconds.
“We know Alphonse (Igish) was hindered by an injury in 2020, but at this year’s Grand Prix in Port Moresby, he was right on the tail of Emmanuel Anis in both the 100m and 200m,” he said.
“Having these three athletes joining Leroy Kamau in the US is going to be very good for our 4x100m relay.”
Cloud County Community College offers two-year programmes which students take up prior to pursuing further studies at universities. The athletes will compete for Cloud County in the junior college track and field programme for two seasons (2022 and 2023).
With the Pacific Games coming up in November 2023, they will be well placed to make the team.
Green acknowledged Masiu and Tsiamalili for their support, and encouraged other provinces to support their athletes through such an arrangement.
Dende, Igish and Anis will join six other national squad members at the college where there will be a big welcome for the trio and plenty of support as they adjust to life in the US.