Junior Cycling National Team Medals in Dominican Republic
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. “The man who has no imagination has no wings”. That is a quote from the one and only Muhammad Ali. And, our Junior Cycling National Team most certainly soared to the top with their outstanding performance at the Caribbean Junior Cycling Games in the Dominican Republic. Gabrielle Gabourel secured a gold medal in the Individual Time Trial and bronze medal in the Road Race Championship. Jalen Briceño secured a bronze medal in the Individual Time Trial. We caught up with the team at the Phillip Goldson International Airport upon their return.
Gabrielle Gabourel
Gabrielle Gabourel, Caribbean Junior Cycling Champion
“It was definitely I think one of the happiest moments of my life to stand on the podium and hear the Belizean national anthem play in a foreign land, especially holding the flag on the number one spot on the podium. I held it with pride, especially in the month of September.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you attribute to your first place in the time trial against the competition from across the Caribbean?”
Gabrielle Gabourel
“I think I put a lot of work into my trial because it is a guaranteed win. There aren’t many factors that can affect you in a time trial as it can affect you in a road race. I think I prepared extra for the time trial. I went in confident.”
Paul Lopez
“And for the road race, what was the mindset, you received bronze.”
Gabrielle Gabourel
“Yeah I got bronze; I tried my best to get away. It was next to impossible, especially after the time trial I think I had a big target on my back because my time was a lot faster than the others. I was a target for the road race.”
Jalen Briceño
Jalen Briceño, Bronze Medalist, Caribbean Junior Cycling Games
“Personally for me it is a great honor to actually bring back something to my country. It has always been a dream to first of all be selected for team, even a greater experience to be on the podium compared to other guys from across the Caribbean. It honestly, when I went there it was a bit intimidating because I was a small guy, because everybody was like way bigger but I still went there and gave it my all.”
Alicia Thompson
Alicia Thompson, President, Cycling Federation of Belize
“We were the force to be reckoned with out there. It is like when Belize move we have to move. Gabby had a hard time to get away from the crowd because of her winning the gold medal in the time trial everybody knew she was the one to watch. But yes this is a building block and I want all these young people to see, you put in the work, you get the opportunity and you bring results.”
And, staying on cycling, this weekend the Belize Tourism Board hosted its Annual September Criterium, which is a bicycle race on a circuit road course. This Sunday’s race was held on the Albert/Regent Street circuit. Here are some highlights courtesy of Ordonez Bike Shop.
This is the start of the junior and youth race on Regent Street. Asher Belisle immediately makes a break away. Here on the second lap of the race its Gonz rider, Steven Sylvester blazing a trail all alone. In the fifth lap, Rolling Shottaz Ivan Usher attacked the main peloton to take the lead. Devonte Bennett quickly responded. That was followed by an attack by Guatemala’s Kevin Rojas for the lead. Late in the race, with only two laps remaining, Kevin Rojas is all alone out front. In the lead, Rojas catches up with the tail of the race and laps the main group of riders. At the finish line, it is Kevin Rojas for the win in the Junior and Youth Category.
And now for some action from the elite riders, early in the race its Imani’s Devin Azueta and G’Flow’s Jyven Gonzalez in the lead. Six riders are now up front on Regent Street, including Shawn Codd, Carlton Robinson, Oscar Quiroz and Giovanni Lovell. Oscar Quiroz has now taken the lead in this one, followed by Carlton Robinson, Giovanni Lovell and Wasani Castro. Shawn Codd launches an attack on Regent Street to open a gap between the lead group of riders. Shawn Codd is still in the lead, all alone, as he swings off Albert Street and onto Regent Street. Codd would eventually be caught by the main lead group.
Again it is Shawn Codd with the lead on Albert Street after launching an attack on Regent Street. But, Oscar Quiroz remains in pursuit. With twelve laps remaining, Jyven Gonzalez has been holding the lead and will continue to do so do so for several more laps. Oscar Quiroz, Carlton Robinson and Giovanni Lovell continue to pursue Gonzalez as they seek to close this longstanding gap. At the finish line its Oscar Quiroz in first place, followed by Jyven Gonzalez and Giovanni Lovell.
Oscar Quiroz
Oscar Quiroz, Elite Winner, B.T.B. September Criterium
“I mean Jyven did a good job out there; I have to give him his props. I enjoy when you ride like that. It only could serve best for everybody out there. I mean, clean racing. I love it and I thank god and I am thankful for the win.”
We say a huge congratulation to all the winners. Once again those highlights come to you courtesy of Ordonez Bike Shop.
We now move into some basketball action, the Benny’s Interoffice Basketball League is currently underway, with games being held weekly inside the Saint Catherine Auditorium. Tonight, we bring you highlights from Friday night’s matchup between the Grace Kennedy Kings and the undefeated Belize City Council Dragons, courtesy RY Productions. The Grace Kennedy Kings win the tip-off. Number six for the Kings, Lindsay Young dribbles past two defenders, goes up, draws the foul, and puts up the basket to place his team on the scoreboard. On the other end of the court its Kevin Hamilton who finds his way inside and banks the jump shot for two points.
Fifty-three seconds left in the fourth quarter, Aubrun Rivero takes it to the basket and misses the layup. His teammate Shaqueem Valerio with the rebound and the put-back for two points to tie the game. The first quarter ended with a fourteen-point tie. Three minutes left in the half, Kings in possession of the ball. Throw in to Cambriel Barrow, back to Captain Kerell Tench. Tench with the strong drive to the basket to give his team the lead. On the other end it’s Kevin Hamilton with the fast-break and the quick jumper to tie the game. The half ended with the Grace Kennedy Kings in the lead, twenty-five points to the Dragons’ twenty points.
The Belize City Council Dragons continued to trail at the end of the third quarter with thirty-four points to the Kings’ forty-two points. In the fourth and final quarter, its Auburn Rivero with the ball to Hamilton under the rim. Hamilton tosses it off to Valerio in the paint to complete the play. On the other end of the court, Keiron Salazar at the three-point line. Lindsay Young with a huge rebound and he puts it back up to finish the play. Under a minute to go in this one and the Kings are up by seven points. Cordel Gonzalez for the Belize City Council Dragons is left wide open at the three-point line and he puts up a much needed three. It’s now a two possession ball game. Dragons inbound to Hamilton with nineteen seconds on the clock. Hamilton to Gonzalez at the three point line, Gonzalez goes up and that is money folks. It is now a one-point game. The Grace Kennedy Kings would go on to win the match by one point.
Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
