Santino’s Jamis take “W” in Holy Saturday race
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday on a Tuesday. Elston Kerr, who won the first ever Cross Country Classic began a wonderful tradition that extended into its 74th edition this Holy Saturday. Riders from as far away as North American and Colombia lined up at the starting gate, joining some eighty other cyclists making a bid.
At the starting line some five minutes to 6:00 on Saturday morning, the focus beams on Ernest Meighan, the defending champion who wears the national jersey representing the hopes and aspirations of all Belizeans. And they’re off as we say in the business.
Hailing from Dangriga, and in his second year in the big time Denroy Langford grabs the first station prize and would pick up two more inside the Hattieville area.
After that, this ride David Calaam of Mexico riding for Chetumal takes over completely, and he sweeps through all station prizes in this one hundred and forty mile journey until he is reeled in at Cotton Tree.
However, at Roaring Creek it’s a two man breakaway that has been made to stick as Camil Sidarta of Team Honda and Armando Robles of Guinness Smiling. And here is the Mexican duo entering Camalote after seizing the opportunity to enter into a symbiotic relationship on the road. It’s a co-operative effort that lasts all the way into San Ignacio as Sidarta takes the half way prize, and then both pull back over the Hawkesworth Bridge heading back to Belize City.
In fact, the Mexican pair maintains its dominance in this race all the way back to Roaring Creek as they alternate the station prizes to the satisfaction of both.
It was around mile thirty-nine when the pack finally reels in the front runners as the American Christ Hartley tries to shake things up. Hartley continued his persistent pushing all the way through the Rockville area. But again, the front runners congregate as strategies begin to unfold.
Then Big Mike Lewis steps up as if wanting to launch a solo flight and here is taking the Hattieville prize.
Nevertheless, it’s another Mexican rider, Juan Luis Gonzalez stealing the pace at mile eight until relinquishing the pace to yet another Mexican, Eduardo Uribe, who won the recent Belmopan Cycle Classic.
At this point, we were forced to leave for the Marion Jones Sporting Complex for the grand finish. At the entrance, it’s three riders in the lead, Eduardo Uribe of Santino, Gustavo Carillo of Sunflower and Gerardo Castillo of Santino.
The chase bunch arrives, but arrives too late do anything about the three-man sprint about to unfold for the 2002 title.
So here comes moneytime. Uribe attacks on the outside, but it’s not even a sprint. Both Carillo and Castillo posses rubbery legs right now and Eduardo Uribe looks back basking in the reality that he has won the 74th Cross Country title without a challenge in the end, posting a time of 6 hours, 5 minutes and 49 seconds.
Gustavo Carillo of Sunflower cruises in for second, the fourth of his illustrious career and Gerardo Castillo from Mexico settles for 3rd.
Now watch Big Mike Lewis power home in the field sprint to take 4th and become the first Belizean to finish. Calman Williams holds on to 5th place–the best in his cross country career–pushing Mateo Cruz in 6th and the defending champion Ernest Meighan into 7th. Andrew Smiling finished 8th, Orson Butler pulled up 9th and the American Jamaican riding for Team Malic, Anthony Taylor, rounds out the top 10.
We caught up the new champ speaking through his manager and interpreter, Santino Castillo.
James Adderley
“Why didn’t it end up in a sprint; you just simply got up on your bicycle and walked away in the end?”
Eduardo Uribe, 2002 Cross Country Champ
“Because Carrillo worked more and is dead, and the wind is in front…”
James Adderley
“When did you make that move on the road to know that you were going to be a factor at the end of this race?”
Eduardo Uribe
“At the cemetery when Mr. Castillo told me to attack.”
James Adderley
“Could you tell us what happened to Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan in this particular ride? He wasn’t here at the finish after making threatening moves earlier.”
Santino Castillo, Owner, Santino’s Jamis
“Well I think that Jawmaine’s hand greatly affected him. He told throughout the race that he was feeling pain. He had to be changing his gears with his next hand, so quite honestly, we changed to plan two, which was said “Mateo we need you to be there.” Mateo missed the break had Mateo been in this break, we would have ridden for Mateo, but he missed the break and there was nothing we could have done.”
James Adderley
“What happened at the burying ground area when these three foreigners were allowed to make that move, make that breakaway and make it stick?”
Mike Lewis, 4th Place
“No, they went from about five miles.”
James Adderley
“How did that happen?”
Mike Lewis
“Well, from Hattieville they lone attack and attack. You cannot chase everything, worse a man like me; if I chase everything, I don’t got nothing on the end. If I have a two man to chase them for me, it’s all right, but I can’t chase everybody.”
James Adderley
“Who were you riding for today? Sunflower?
Mike Lewis
“Nobody.”
James Adderley
“Now this is one of the things, you were alone, no help, and when you looked around at the other Belizeans contenders, Quinton Hamilton, Ernest Meighan, they were two weak to give you any assistance.”
Mike Lewis
“Well, they have their teams do their jobs for. But when I bring them in, I take out every one of them. I don’t see no man out here that can take me out. That’s why I really want to come in that that three men to prove to myself that I takeout everybody, but I cannot do it on my own.”
Changing gears folks, in Regent Cup football play; Thursday night saw Fabro’s Juventus Stars at Dangriga coming back from a 2-zip deficit against Griga United to crush the home-team 4-2. Meanwhile on Saturday at Belmopan, Kulture Yabra of Belize City bombed Builder’s Hardware Bandits 3-1.
Thus, Yabra shows 9 playoff points, Bandits and Juventus show 6 apiece, while Griga finds itself in the cellar with a mere 3 points. Next week schedule finds Yabra hosting Juventus at the MCC Grounds and the Bandits travel south to face to Griga United.
In closing, respect to Jaheed Smith, Belize’s sole representative to the Junior CARIFTA Games at Nassau, Bahamas over the weekend. He picked up silver in the 100 metres and might have finished 4th in the 200 metres. Smith was expected to arrive from the Bahamas this afternoon and certainly, we say congratulations to this young man who has been at the forefront in Belizean track and field.
That’s it for now, thanks to our cameramen for their great work over the weekend, Jah over all I’m James Adderley.
