James Adderley with weekend sports

Good evening. I’m James Adderley and welcome to this serving of Sports Monday.

There’s got to be something seriously wrong with the sports people when the National Infant A and B Track and Field Championship at the Belize Technical Grounds yesterday attracted only a handful of athletes which was so much more than the number of fans that actually showed up for the event. Nevertheless, there were signs of life.

At least eight athletes competed in the high jump event and we caught five of them in this live up. At moneyline though Shawn Reyes clears 4 feet, 7½ inches to grab top honors. While Andrea Gordon was forced into second place. On the ladies side, Esi Mossiah hops over four feet for the big “W”. In the only other competition in the event, Sherone Leslie couldn’t make that height but finished second automatically.

For two time gold medalist and record holder Jaheed Smith, well he breezed through this event with his jump. Newcomer Shane Reyes who has improved immensely took second place on this effort.

Meanwhile the female 800 meter finds Tabita Hyde in a duel over Julie McKoy. They’re into the final lap when Julie runs out of gas and looks for assistance. Tabita continues on alone and goes for the sprint at the finish – and she gave it her all for which we give her maximum respect.

In the boys 1200 meters, 4 athletes made a bid in the sweltering heat at the Belize Technical Grounds. Fenton Ross gets the message. It’s the final lap so he puts on the afterburners. He is unchallenged going all the way to the tape to take the top honors and Drake Gordon who put on quite a chase – he finished second.

The youngsters gave their all people and every year or so they travel abroad and bring home gold medals. We’ve got to give them something better than this.

Turning to the softball scene, disaster struck the defending champions, Team C.T.C. at yesterday’s showdown with the mighty Acros at Roger’s Stadium. Maybe it’s the absence of national pitcher Shirlene Banner on the mound but here at the end of 3 Acros is up 11-6. In the top of the fourth Keisha Reyes singles on Jenny Vernon to bring one only. Maybe if Jenny got a little help from the shortstops these 2 girls wouldn’t score but the champion goes down in a 17-6 blast giving Keisha Reyes the big “W”.

Here’s one more look at team C.T.C.’s defense folks and as we say in the business… it’s not smoking.

On the male side Errol King proved no match for Richard Stevenson as Rookies blank Vikings 18-zip in the nightcap. Here Errol faces his first batter who immediately takes him out of the park. It gets progressively worst; the catcher can’t come up with the ball. It becomes a fast ball that scores a run and yes with this kind of fielding no wonder the Vikings lose 18-zip. Richard Stevenson takes the win for the defending champion Rookies.

Finally in cycling news, James Frampton sets a new record of 4 hours, 54 minutes in the third Belize Workers’ Union Labor Day Cycle Classic held on Friday to grab his first big time win. Big Mike Lewis finished second, Orson Butler third, Andrew Smiling fourth while Leroy Betson rounds out the top five.

Finally folks I wanna remind you that this Sunday brings up the Bel-Chi Mother’s Day Cycle Classic. It runs from capital city Belmopan, heads to Benque Veijo Border Station and swings back to finish right here in Belize City by the Pound Yard.

Hey, that’s it. Thanks to our cameramen for their great work this weekend. Jah over all. I’m James Adderley.