Poro Gahekave is running consistently well for her South Plains College team in her first cross country season.
The 23-year-old, who burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old in 2007 and won the inaugural women’s 3000m Steeplechase Pacific Games Gold, joined the Texas team in January this year when she resumed her studies after the Pacific Games.
Gahekave, who had been written off by some observers after a dip in form during 2009/2010, resurrected her career after moving to Kokopo in 2011. And after completing her secondary education in 2013, she set her sights on the Port Moresby Games.
She won silver in the 3000m steeple with a significant personal best performance, denied the gold only by teammate Rama Kumiligo, who was herself in record breaking form.
Gahekave has run three sub 20 minute 5km cross country races in the last two months and placed seventh last weekend in the Junior College Regional Championships, with a personal best 19min 36.96 seconds.
She is now looking forward to helping her team do well at the National Junior College Cross Country Championships in El Dorado, Kansas, on November 12.
Gahekave will finish off the cross country season with her first half marathon race at the NJCAA Nationals at the picturesque venue of Hugh S Branyon Backcountry Trails at Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Alabama, on November 19.
Athletics PNG Secretary Philip Rehder said it’s a well-known fact that running cross country gives athletes a good foundation for a track season, “so we look forward to seeing what Poro can do next year”.
Her teammates at South Plains College, Shirley Vunatup and Naomi Kerari, are also preparing for the indoor track season, which will begin in earnest after Christmas.
(Gahekave during the 2013 IX Mini Pacific Games – Wallis and Futuna. Picture: 2013 IX Mini Pacific Games)