James Adderley analyzes the stats as cyclists cross the finish line
James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The tension continues to mount inside the cycling community as we speed on to the massive 2010 Cross Country Classic set for Holy Saturday. Over the weekend, a whopping sixty-three riders suited up for the weekly Saturday race presented by the Belize Cycling Association in an effort to sharpen their skills and rack up miles in preparation for the most prestigious and grueling ride of the year. And as they start from in front of Leslie’s Imports on Saturday, we might as well tell you right now, thirteen of these athletes will not complete the course.
Sixteen miles after the start, we find a competitive pelathon still in effect as the first wave to hug the Hattieville/Boom curve flashes into view strong out in speed mode as fourteen riders try to engender a breakaway. But any Cross Country hopeful will tell you that the main bunch considers this nine second split quite manageable, especially when the target remains in sight. Meanwhile, as we turn around at the Boom road, we find three riders: Byron Pope, Peter Choto and Chris Reyes looking for the escape, but obviously it’s not going to happen right now. On the way back on the Boom Road, the lead trio is now joined by Sherman Thomas and Omar Cruz to make it a five man pack. However, around mile twelve on the Western Highway, this run ends as the main pack catches up to the leaders. As the race looks to move over Burton Bridge, we have a new lead pack featuring eight riders. So we transition to the finish. Christian McNish of Benny’s Megabytes pulls the curve and displays his sprinting ability all the way to the tape for the big W. in this fifty-two mile race in a time of one hour, fifty-nine minutes, three seconds Peter Choto of Zamir pulls up second, Austin Armstrong of Clear the Land takes third while Jose Choto and Deazan Spence rounds out the top five. Austin Armstrong also took the junior prize, Sherman Thomas who finished sixth overall took the masters prize, Peter Choto of Zamir took second overall and the category three prize.
Looking ahead folks, the eighty-seven mile Digicell Valentine Cycling Classic comes up on Sunday February fourteenth with the American Rick Harper coming in as the elite defending champion. Shalini Zabaneh is the female defending champ and Kyle Gentle comes in as the junior defending champion.
In basketball news, the Belize District basketball association will be presenting its season beginning Friday, the twenty-sixth February 2010 inside the City Center. The categories featured are men’s open basketball tournament, the women’s open basketball tournament and under nineteen men’s basketball tournament. So these are the three categories that will be featured. If you want to get in, you can contact Basil Brannon 600-4154 or the Vice President Leon Palacio at 623-9241.
In football news, let’s head to the M.C.C. Grounds for the Belize District Football Association’s first division competition as Brown Bombers hosted BWEL yesterday. And immediately, in the Brandon Cacho catches up with this ball which he heads to Valentin Ferguson to give BWEL a 1-zip lead eight minutes in. In the meantime, Mark Zuniga might not have known too much about what happens here, but the ball scores and he gets the credit for the equalizer two minutes later. BWEL then goes to the set piece for the lead and failure to clear by the Bombers gives Elezair Shaw this look and the Gas Company goes up 2-1. BWEL could go up 3-1 right here but Ernest Flores is denied by the horizontal bar. At the other end, Anael Lopez mishandles this outside shot and Mark Zuniga makes him pay the maximum price as he ties the ballgame at two apiece. Zuniga is hurt on the move and has to abandon the field of play.
Folks, we’re five minutes into second half play when Wayne Miller gets this look at goal and he gives the Bombers a 3-2 lead. Make it a 4-2 ballgame when Leon Jones takes advantage of poor clearance on BWEL’s part to power the pill past Lopez. But it ain’t over yet people because Ernest Flores scores on a shot Ferguson should have handled to make it a 4-3 score. Nevertheless, the Brown Bombers’ reply is swift and effective. Tyrone Muschamp controls the ball to find the near corner it’s a 5-3 configuration on the scoreboard. In the end BWEL just runs out of gas so T. Muschamp slices up the defense to find Leon Jones in style and Jones scores his second of the match as the Brown Bombers go on to post the 6-3 big W. In other results from over the weekend, Kraal Road doubled Vin Fa FC 2-1.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
