James Adderley and the weekend blotter of Sports
james adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to Sports Monday.
The new cycling calendar as presented by the Belize Cycling Association got off with a bang yesterday as the 50 mile Alpheus Williams HIV Classic reigned supreme on the Western Highway with all the big guns out to make the point that they’ll be ready for the 2011 Cross Country Cycling Classic.
It’s a rolling start featuring a whopping 96 riders as the race leaves the starting line at the Belmopan Comprehensive School to go around the ring road and looking for his 3rd in a row is the 2-time defending Champion Greg Lovell riding for Team Zamir of Orange Walk. It’s a sight to behold when a field this large hugs the curve coming out of Belmopan and the real journey begins.
Around Mile 33, the pelathon is spread out and this is a glimpse of men and their mean machines travelling at 30 miles per hour and any self respecting rider is right here. As we pan forward, we see Darnell Barrow, Glen O’Brien, Big Mike Lewis, George Abraham, Shane Vasquez (the last Belizean Cross Country Champ), Marlon Castillo and on the pace is the Guatemalan Luis Santiago, Ernest Meighan, Geon Hanson and Brandon Cattouse.
It’s around Mile 17 when this group of 18 finally extricate themselves from the main bunch which includes Jose Choto, Glen O’Brien, Nissan Arana, Henry Morriera, Arnide Rovers, Greg Lovell, Hernan Ochaeta and Byron Pope. Of the pelathon is just 56 seconds behind which is manageable. Race commisaire Kwane Scott confirms the lead time. At mile 12, the group of 18 has extended the lead to 1 minute 14 seconds and again we have the evidence. So now, we’ve got a 15 man sprint to the tape at Leslie’s Imports—Leroy Cassasola has the early lead—Greg Lovell responds with the afterburner and indeed no one can stop the speedster who wins his 3rd Alpheus Williams Classic in a row with a time of 1 hour 43 minutes 58 seconds. Byron Pope of Benny’s Megabytes pulls up 2nd, Kyne Gentle of Western Spirit is 3rd while Leroy Cassasola of SAntino’s is 4th and Juan Umana-Horis rounds out the top 5. Of the 96 that started 76 riders completed the route in a race that was clocked at 28.047 miles per hours. The fastest time in modern history.
In the Category 4-5 Masters Class, Barney Brown of FT Willimas took this win in a record time of 1:09:03, Santino Castillo took 2nd, while Albert Conorquie Sr. orf Typhoon rounds out the top 3. on the female side, newcomer, Kirah Eiley of team Moze Cycling took top honours in 1:25:47, Anthea Sutherland finished 2nd and Shalini Zabaneh settled for 3rd. We now look forward to the New Year’s Day Cycle Classic sponsored by Krem.
Turning to the football scene, the FFb Inter-District Championship series kicked off yesterday inside the Ricalde Stadium as Libertadores played host to World FC of Cayo. It’s the home team with the opportunity to get on to the scoreboard first when Jamal Martinez gets this open look at goal from point blank range a minute in only to be deified by a fingertip save from goalkeeper Shawn Lopez. A couple minutes later, Clifton West finds himself at the right place at the right time and his right foot push gives Libertadores a 1-zip lead. Folks we’re at the 11th minute when Joel Guzman slices this perfect pass to Julian Maldonado who comes up with a wicked left foot push to tie the ballgame at 1 apiece. Maldonado then looks for his 2nd goal on this volley that fails to give World FC the lead.
At the other end, Ardon Budna displays good range form outside the 18, but his wonderful strike is kept out of the goal by an impressive save from Shawn Lopez who really had to extend himself. 38 minutes in Miguel Aguilar comes up with this left foot slice that dangles inside the net as World FC takes a 2-1 lead. The home team look for the reply off this set piece but again the intervention by Shawn Lopez is successful.
We go to 2nd half and immediately Clifton West gets his chance to tie the score but pulls the left foot outside the sticks and knows he should have done better. New here is an interesting play; Elliot Bermudez works his way to the penalty area only to end up gifting the pill to goalkeeper Keron Swazo. However whent his long distance dial from Julian Maldonado bounces off the near upright, Miguel Aguilar pounces with the right foot for his 2nd goal of the match to five the visitors a 3-1 lead and the Libertadores reaction shows that their will might have been broken right here.
At the 77th minute, things really nose dive for the home team when poor defensive play gives possession to Miguel Aguilar who gives World FC a 3 goal cushion with his 3rd of the match. In extra time, Shannon Defour picks up this loose ball and fires a right foot shot that gives World FC a 5-1 Big Win.
The scene now shifts to the Norman Broaster Stadium for the final match of the series and Libertadores must come up with 4 goal margin of win first to force overtime. In other football news, Caribbean Cup play over the weekend saw San Felipe Barcelona handle the BDF in a 2-1 score, Griga United blanked Belmopan Blaze 1-zip and Toledo Ambassadors edged FC Belize 4-3.
Finally folks, here are the winners from the Belize Amateur Athletic Association races held on the Western Highway, yesterday. Leon O’Brien wins the male 10K, Ajahny Carr tool the female 10K, Alexander Alvarado was winner in the male 5K while Ashantie Carr was the female winner. Ajani Vaughan took the male 5o meters, Aaliyah Carr won the female 50 meters. Ajani Vaughan won the Male 150 meters with Aaliyah Carr taking the female 150 meters. Ajani Carr emerged with the win for the female junior 150 meters. The next race is set for January 1st, 2011.
Jah Overall, I’m James Adderley
