Mexican wins Belmopan Cycling Classic
Good evening I’m James Adderley and we welcome you to this latest version of Sports Monday. Baron Bliss became our benefactor by bequeathing us his wealth, and ever since the country of Belize has dedicated the ninth of March to his memory. As usual, this annual holiday brings with it a flurry of activity on the sporting side, so let’s jump into it.
Do not attempt to adjust your television set, as the 8:00 a.m. start to the Belmopan Cycling Classic at the Pound Yard Bridge is being accurately portrayed. It’s some forty-eight elite riders, including the defending champion Eduardo Uribe of Mexico, participating in this one hundred mile ride.
The first attempt at breakaway comes outside of Hattieville from Shane Vasquez of Cayo and Juan Gonzalez of Santino’s. But they would be unable to make it stick mostly because of this puncture experienced by the Cayo rider.
The defending champion Uribe makes his first appearance at the head of the pack around mile nineteen, and it proved to be only a case of testing the waters. In fact, it’s around mile thirty-three when the major move in this race is made and this is the six-pack that made it happen, namely Uribe, Miguel Perez, Ariel Rosado and Mateo Cruz of Santino and Quinton Hamilton and Christopher Harkey of Smiling Guinness.
And here they are, all six entering the capital city Belmopan to complete the first half of the ride. Some three minutes behind, the chase bunch, led by Ernest Meighan, Mac Cannon and Roger Troyer of Cayo try to organise in an effort to bridge the gap.
However, around mile forty-one on the way back the lead six is still intact. At the station prize given by Cheers Restaurant around mile thirty-one, Eduardo Uribe steps up to make his presence felt.
The first break-up of the six pack occurs around mile eleven on the way in when Ariel Rosado decides to go it alone and does pick up the station prize at mile eight. And here he is trying to recover after being gobbled up by a furious headwind and a serious chase group. This failed bid allows Chris Harkey and Uribe to escape from the pack and they make it good.
So it becomes a two-man race for top honours when we join this sprint inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. Uribe overtakes his man from behind then cuts in front of him and now he knows he has Chris Harkey beaten as he raises his arms in celebration of his successful defence of the Belmopan Cycle Classic.
In the sprint for third place, Quinton Hamilton out-pedals Mateo Cruz, while Ariel Rosado pulls up fifth and Miguel Perez, who suffered a spill on Central American Boulevard because of a fan, settles for sixth.
On the ladies side of this event we give you this glimpse of the eight contenders as they travel from Belmopan to Belize City. We didn’t get this finish, but here is Cycling President Kevin Hall presenting third place to Fiona Humes, second to the much-improved Amelita Knowles and the big title goes to Violet Morrison who swept all the station prizes. All this means folks is that this year’s female cross-country will be quite an event.
Meanwhile, we can only bring you this picture of the winners in the Junior category. However, we were made to understand that the Juniors and non-elite were grouped together. So we ask where does Kenneth Butler fit in all of this.
Changing gears people, we move to the 5K Road Race staged Sunday morning, and we certainly feel encouraged by the massive turnout of participants. And well they’re off, featuring beauty queens, tiny tots and of course more mature competition.
This is not to say this event has been taken over by female athletes. To be accurate folks, we’ll go directly to the awards ceremony to find out who emerged with trophies, but this sprint is truly interesting. (Woman runs and hold on to police officer)…and yes Mr. Police Officer, you better please put the winner under close arrest and he does, for which he should the athlete is thankful and for which he should be congratulated.
In the overall category Michael Godoy finished in a time of 18:59 to take top honours; he’s sixteen years old. Sixteen to nineteen years old, Tyrone Cox takes that top honours beating out Keenan King and Kaul Courtenay.
At twenty to thirty-nine age group, it’s Ernesto Reid in a time of 20:40. Ken Emmanuel finishes second 22:10, and Kevin Moreno 24:15.
In the forty and over category William Bailey, forty-three years old finished in a time of 19:37, which is pretty impressive. Richard Shaw took second place in 20:54 and John Erestia, forty-nine, finished in a time of 36:59.
In the overall female category, give the W to Christalee Allen, who finished in a time of 26:10; she is fourteen years old. In the under nineteen category Marsha Ottley takes top honours followed by Shadeen Ottley and third place goes to Shiffon Flores.
In the twenty to thirty-four class it’s Teresita Grajales in a time of 27:07, beating out Adelma Broaster and Audrey Grinage.
And in the thirty-six and over class, Cynthia Grinage took top honours in 28:42; she is thirty-seven years old. She beat out Martha Habet and Kathleen Tillett in that order. Yeah Kathleen Tillett, respect okay.
Okay folks, that’s our show for today, we certainly invite you back Monday, next week we go back to our usual time slot. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
