400m gold medallist at the PNG Games and Pacific Mini Games last year, Benjamin Aliel, was awarded a two-year scholarship by PNG Beneficiaries of Oceania Foundation Scholarships, to take up studies at South-Western College in Iowa.
His running qualities were recognized by Athletics PNG in 2014, but with strong competition for places in the national team for the 2015 Games, he had to wait for the opportunity to represent his country.
Training under Coach Allan Akia, Aliel produced a series of outstanding performances at the National Championships in Goroka, the PNG Games in Kimbe, and at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.
Meanwhile, Athletics PNG currently has 12 of its athletes in USA Colleges, including Theo Piniau who quietly returned to Texas over the weekend, to resume his studies at West Texas A&M University after a two-year break.
