Upcoming sprinters land in US

UPCOMING sprinters Emmanuel Anis, Alphonse Igish and Jonathan Dende arrived yesterday in Kansas, United States, after departing Port Moresby on Sunday.
Their original flight on Saturday was cancelled and the trio departed on Sunday via Singapore to Doha then to Chicago before transiting to Kansas.
Anis, Dende and Igish told The National yesterday that it was their longest flight and it was their first time to travel out of the country.
When asked how the trip was, 22-year-old Bougainvillean Igish said going through different countries’ airport checks was a bit challenging.
“The weather here is cold and we haven’t adjusted to it yet, so it’s going to take a little getting used to,” he said.
Anis, Dende and Igish will be based at Cloud Country Community College where they will study and compete alongside six fellow Papua New Guinea athletes.
East Sepik native Anis, 20, will be studying business administration and political science while Dende and Igish will study science and social science respectively.
Athletics PNG president Tony Green said having the three athletes teaming up with Leroy Kamau in the US would boost the country’s 4x100m relay team.
The trio will attend the college on a two-year programme.
Anis is sponsored by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird while Dende and Igish received support from Bougainville Regional MP Peter Tsiamalili Jr and South Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu.
Meanwhile, National Sports Institute director Janet Gimots thanked Green for providing an opportunity for Igish and Dende to continue their athletics career and education abroad.
“Also, a big thanks to coach Samu Sasama and the institute for initiating the athlete development programme,” she said.
“It is through this programme that the pair are able to pursue their athletics dreams.”