Marinett out-sprints field in cross country
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and we welcome you to this latest posting of Sports Monday. Mother’s Day, May eleventh brought the top eight female cyclist of the nation together for the thirteenth edition of the Female Cross Country Classic, and we must say it was the grandest ever after attracting, the biggest participation of competitors in its young history.
We take you to San Ignacio, where all eight athletes are gathered for the seven a.m. start. And well, they’re underway in this seventy-mile journey towards the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City.
In the early goings, it’s Chandra Cansino on pace, scooping up the first station prize. But by the time the pelathon rolled into Roaring Creek, Marinett Flowers, the 2001 champion had begun to assert herself.
Of course the 2000 champion Violet Morrison, must make her presence felt as she rolls up on this station prize. And then the unthinkable happens, around mile twenty-one Claudette Maheia decides to gamble as she breaks away, deciding to run all the way to Belize City. Claudette runs all the way to mile twelve before she gets caught up by the determined chasers.
However, at the Marion Jones, only six riders arrive for the mad rush to fame and fortune. But here’s the sprint for the 2003 female championship. Violet Morrison has the lead when Marinett Flowers attacks from the outside.
Flowers grabs the lead, Amelita Knowles then surges forward, but it’s Marinett Flowers holding on to the big W in the sprint, grabbing her second cross country title. Amelita Knowles scorches Violet Morrison for second, Fiona Humes has to settle for fourth, Claudette Maheia pulls up fifth, while the defending champion Anamarie Bennett, who we must say has had a horrible calendar year and again fell victim to a spill, rolls in for sixth place.
Marinett Flowers, Female Cross Country Champion
“I was just trying to position myself…I see Anamarie get a spill two times, I just feel someone rub on my wheel, but I don’t know what happened behind me. I was in good shape, for the last two race, my shoes were giving me a lot of trouble, so I couldn’t sprint. But now I get a next shoes, so I was in good shape and my foot wasn’t giving me any trouble and I made it to the finish. I saw the other girls trying to make a big sprint, but I think they make a mistake, I am very good at a long distance sprint.”
Nevertheless folks, we must congratulate all eight female athletes for the monster show they gave us on Mother’s Day.
Changing gears folks, we head north to Orange Walk where Juventus is playing host to the San Pedro Seahawks, who certainly are well dressed for the occasion.
We’re twenty-two minutes into the ballgame when this corner kick ricochets off the body of Orland Lyons and Juventus takes a 1-zip lead.
Marion Sihonga tries to reply for the Seahawks, but Juventus shows tough defence.
At the other end, Juventus should have made it 2-nil here, but Lyons lets Charlie Slusher off the hook. But letting the keeper off the hook is not limited to Juventus as demonstrated by Edon “Yellowman” Rawley. And at the half, it’s the host team still boasting a 1-zip lead.
So we go to second half action, and will someone please tell this O.W. defensive player that you can’t pass to the keeper inside the box like this; well at least now he knows.
Keep your eyes on the subsequent spotkick; Pinelo pushes to Jose Lara and boom! We’ve got a tied ballgame.
Want to see a nice save? Here’s Charlie Slusher coming up big time for San Pedro on this nice outside launch from the O.W. team. However, Slusher couldn’t handle this wicked spotkick from Elroy Kuylen, which hits the far upright, rebounds to Orland Lyons and he has his second goal of the match and Juventus goes up 2-1.
On this press, “Yellowman” Rawley gets this ball in the air, it bounces off “Kello” Leslie and Ashton Lewis–right place right time–takes full advantage to tie the ballgame at two apiece.
Meanwhile folks, this O.W. defender miskicks at a most inappropriate time Marion Sihonga streaks in, raises the ball into the net and it turns out to be the game winner in a 3-2 score.
Thus exits Juventus, while San Pedro Seahawks move on to round two in this Prime Minister’s Cup Tournament.
In other Prime Minister Cup Tournament matches over the weekend, Sagitun moves on after a 2-zip W over Jacintoville Saturday night. Kulture Yabra also moves on after handing Grigamandala a second 2-zip loss yesterday at the M.C.C. Grounds, while newcomer Valley Pride needed a win from the penalty spot, but got the 1-zip win to eliminate Real Verdes. We are gonna keep you posted as the tournament turns in this particular series.
In volleyball news, the Belize Volleyball Association 2003 tournament opened over the weekend. In female play, Gomez Lady Scorpions fell to Miller Girls 18-25, 22-25, 29-19 and 23-25. On the firm side, Lighthouse dropped Police in two 25-21, 25-19 and in the male nightcap, Berges Scorpions prevailed over S.Q. Dragons in four 27-25, 21-25, 25-19 and 25-16.
And yes folks, we are again gonna congratulate Marinett Flowers for that wonderful win on Mother’s Day. That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.
