Weekend cycling and football results in Sports Monday

James Adderley

Good evening I’m James Adderley and we certainly welcome you to this issue of Sports Monday.

As the Belizean nation gets ready for the Holy Saturday Cross Country event, the Belize Cycling Association continues to present even more races in an effort to prepare its athletes for prime time. So we looked in on Saturday’s fifty-two mile race on the Northern Highway. All five categories combined for the start under the glaring gaze of the Saturday morning sun for a total of sixty-eight riders. Folks, we’re only about eight minutes into the ride when this spill happens. It’s severe with bodies all over the asphalt in a chaotic fashion. Among the injured are junior riders, Rus and Ian Cattouse, Tariq Cano of Megabytes, Glenn O’Brien of Zamir, Sherwin Latchman riding unattached and Sherman Thomas of Team Police who would continue to grab eighth place overall at the finish. Around mile eleven Marlon Castillo and Byron Pope jump out to take command of the pace. And here’s the lead duo pulls the corner at the Hattieville roundabout but they’re certainly sweating under the pressure being exerted by the chase group. The strain forces Pope off the pace but three riders, Darnell Barrow, Froggy Leslie and Peter Choto now take aim at the sole leader Marlon Castillo. However, Zamir’s Marlon Castillo will not be caught today as he rolls in for the win in a time of 02:02:07 in uncontested fashion. Now here’s the sprint for second place and it’s Santino’s Darnell Barrow beating Peter Choto of Zamir. Geovanni “Froggy” Leslie of Santino’s holds on to grab fourth place while Jairo Campos of Typhoon wins the six man sprint to round out the top five.

Marlon Castillo, 1st Place

Shalini Zabaneh of Sagitun was impressive in her women elite win today in a time of 02:31:24. Christopher Andrews of C-Ray took the Juniors/Youth class in 02:03:30. Peter Choto won the category three classification in this race 02:02:32 and Sherman Thomas of Team Police showed his toughness by taking the Masters Class win from Kenneth Butler in 02:03:30. Stay tuned folks as the build up to the Cross Country race continues.

In football news, we take you to the M.C.C. Grounds for the latest in the Belize City over thirty-five football competition where league leading Lake I faced a severe test from Plaza yesterday, who might not be a contender this year, but is always a dangerous bunch. And it’s Plaza with first real threat at goal off this set piece triggered by Benjamin Mejia that sees Glen Arzu come up with a big time save. Lake I’s response comes from Erlin Usher who tries this right foot that doesn’t bother Valentine Ferguson in the Plaza goal and by now you know it’s a weak first half.

So we go to the second half looking for better play. In the opening minutes this spot kick launched by Ronald Usher provides ample opportunity for Lake I to get on the scoreboard but no one gets a touch on it. In the meantime, this individual effort by Rudolph “Supa” Humes causes some alarm. Paulie Bradley then forces his presence on the ballgame with this nice splice only to see Ferguson make the stop. Okay folks, we’re very late in the ballgame when Lance “Shyne” Usher, despite going away from the goal, punches the pill with enough power to confound Ferguson and Lake I grabs the 1-zip big W to stay atop the over thirty-five league.

Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.