Gahekave doing well at new school

Sports

FOLLOWING a successful programme at South Plains College in Texas, Poro Gahekave has relocated just 42km 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 Papua New Guinea at the age of 14 in the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa where she won the inaugural steeplechase gold medal, was the country’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 happy to recruit her.
“Through our recruiting of Poro, we found her to be an amazing young woman,” Cordes said.
“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 because it is a small campus and a Christian university.
“With less than 2000 fulltime students and a student/teacher ratio of 13 to one, it is easy to see why Poro enjoys being at LCU,” Athletics PNG secretary Philip Rehder said.
She recently commented that everyone she interacted with knew her by name and she was not just a number.
She went on to say that the people there were very friendly and her professors and coaches were delightful people to work with.
“Coming to the US to study and compete for a college is a journey for me,” Gahekave said.
“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 cares 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.”