British soldier takes sprint triathlon

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and we’re certainly glad you’re able to join us for this issue of Sports Monday. Yesterday the Sunday afternoon exploded at the Sandlighters Promenade where the Sprint Lionman Triathlon was presented by the Belize Triathlon Association.

Among the afternoon movers here in Belize City is Liz Zabaneh haling from Independence who checks her bicycle. Roger Trojer, by way San Ignacio is more concerned with testing his goggles for the afternoon swim. Jim Scott all the way from Toledo wants to take a last look at his cycling helmet before blast off. And a lady we know who is a veteran of these Lionman events, Kathleen Tillett, gets support for the big task at hand. And yes, these two first timers, Kevin Seroki and Denise Diaz, seem almost awed by the afternoon spectacle.

It’s some fifteen males and four females in separate categories aiming at today’s big W when this big splash announces the start of the point four mile swim.

However, Gina Lovell seems to be floundering a few minutes later, forcing the tallest lifeguard to make a rescue stop. This cut to her foot appears to be the culprit as Gina falls victim to the variables.

After the turn around point, it quickly becomes obvious that Wolly Wolger of BATSUB and a regular participant in the triathlons is the superior swimmer.

In fact, it’s a four minute lead for Wolger where he climbs out of the swim and heads to his bicycle for the fifteen-mile ride on the Western Highway.

Jim Scott of Toledo is next out of the sea. And my man Kenneth Butler swims in third. In the meantime Liz Zabaneh is the first female to emerge and her lead at this point looks almost insurmountable and she does swim in before cycle great Douglas Lamb.

Now let’s head to the Western Highway and where we find Wolly Wolger still with a four minute lead when he turns around at the halfway point of this fifteen-mile ride.

Jim Scott remains in hot pursuit nevertheless. Roger Trojer finds himself at third at the turnaround after rolling past Kenneth Butler, who might have put two much into the swim.

But nobody was anywhere near to catching the BATSUB athlete when he dismounts to take on the final leg – a three-mile run.

Still, Jim Scott remains on the chase and is now some three minutes behind the leader.

Roger Trojer rolls in for third place in the second leg. Our respects definitely go out to Winks the Lion, but even as he begins the final leg, Wolly Wolger is in the final phase of his run.

On the female side, Liz Zabaneh maintains her big lead when it’s time to begin the last leg. However folks, there’s no stopping Wolly today and his run to the big W is unchallenged. He finishes in a time of one hour, nineteen minutes, twenty-five seconds overall, and we can only say, Wolly you’re incredible today.

Jim Scott, who had mounted a giant effort to chase Wolger has to settle for second place today, and big respect is due to Jose Choto of Cayo who had to pass three athletes in the run to move up to third place, and I can tell you people, that?s big.

Now give it up for Liz Zabaneh, who claims the female side in unchallenged fashion with a time of one hour, forty-six minutes, forty-one seconds. And we certainly say congratulations.

Wolly Wolger, Winner Sprint Triathlon
?I?ve been in Germany for the last month and I did the Swiss Ironman last week, which consisted of a three point eight K swim, hundred and eighty K bike, and then a twenty-six mile marathon to finish. So if anything, I came to this with fairly fresh legs, but tired from last week. The preparation for this basically consisted of: I flew back into Belize on Thursday, did a couple of swims the last couple of days, and them turned up here this afternoon. Rough swim. Coming back in on the bike, going out was a breeze, but coming back in was tough.?

James Adderley
?You certainly showed a lot of dominance in this swim this morning, although it was a rough swim.?

Wolly Wolger
?Yeah. I think it?s a matter of I?ve got the advantage. In the last couple of years, I think the Olympic distance relay there was a woman come out before me, but apart from that there are some swimmers out there, but I think generally I?ve got a better swim. Swim is my best discipline. I?m fairly good on the bike and then the run, I just basically hang on as best I can.?

James Adderley
?Wolger, a man you beat in the real event, turned around and beat you today, what gives??

Jim Scott, Second, Sprint Triathlon
?He?s a better man today. That?s all I could say James.?

James Adderley
?But the distances were so much shorter.?

Jim Scott
?Yeah, but that guy is internationally experienced. That was only my second triathlon.?

James Adderley
?So you knew you were in trouble immediately after the swim??

Jim Scott, Second, Sprint Triathlon
?Well I saw he was ahead when I came out; they said four minutes. I try my best to make up some time. They said at the turn around point on the ride I was only three minutes behind him and after that turn around, that man-breeze ketch me coming back and were I was going twenty-seven going out, I was only going twenty-one coming back.?

James Adderley
?But are you satisfied with today?s performance??

Jim Scott, Second, Sprint Triathlon
?Absolutely. I?m still the older man, right.?

Liz Zabaneh, Female Winner, Sprint Triathlon
?It was just a lot harder than I expected because of the wind and the time of day. I have been training for morning and evening, thinking it was a morning race, and just found out two days ago it was for two o?clock, so the heat was rough and the wind coming back on the bike, but thank God I finish.?

James Adderley
?Your advantage that you had in the water, where you able to use it to translate into this victory??

Liz Zabaneh, Female Winner, Sprint Triathlon
?I don?t know that I had much advantage in the water, I just tried to–.?

James Adderley
?But you came out first.?

Liz Zabaneh, Female Winner, Sprint Triathlon
?Yeah, but it?s not because I?m anything wonderful in the water, I just been working at it to keep going and going and try not to stop and tread water, to catch my breath, breathe in every stroke.?

James Adderley
?Which would you call your best event??

Liz Zabaneh, Female Winner, Sprint Triathlon
?The run…yeah. Maybe not today, but typically, generally speaking, I?m probably strongest in running.?

We also say congratulations to Kathleen Tillett who picked up second place in the female side. And yes, Denise Diaz we must say good show for your very first time out.

In closing folks, we remain you that the 2005 Queen of the Hills cycling competition that was chased by Miss Emily is now on for this weekend of the thirtieth and thirty-first July. For certain the big guns will be out. You don?t want to miss it.

That’s out show for today, we invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.