Big Mike Lewis wins National Road Championship

James Addereley, Reporting

Good Evening. I’m James Adderley and you’re indeed welcome to this rush of Sports Monday. Youthful ambition and proven experience were destined to clash in the 94 mile Acros National Road Championship presented by the Belize National Cycling Association yesterday. The 8 a.m. start at Roaring Creek sees some 45 of the best riders in the jewel begin this process of choosing the best from amongst many in the annual all Belizean showdown. Around Central Farm a five man lead featuring Arnidez Rinas, Giovanni Leslie, Teddy Vasquez, Philip Dawson and Sherman Thomas take control of the pace. Folks at the turn around point at San Ignacio, in fact right on the Hawkesworth Bridge this ugly spill occurs that leaves some wondering who’s coming and who’s going, If you get my drift. The biggest casualty just happens to be the 2005 Cross Country Champion Shane Vasquez who would mount a gallant effort but would never get back in the thick of things. On the way to Belize City, Sherman Thomas continues to dominate the lead pack as he grabs his third preemie at Nord’s Farm. However, what was a five man lead has now become an eight unit as Nissan Arana, Fred Banner and Gregory Lovell make their presence felt. Lovell also put a stop to the dominance of Sherman Thomas by grabbing the station prize at Garbutt’s Texaco Station in Roaring Creek. Of course the chase would not last forever as this hungry bunch stalks its prey heading in Belmopan for a lap around the Ring Road. Coming out of Tropical City, the new configuration finds the golden one, Ernest Meighen on a solo flight, looking to run. His Santino Team-mate and defending champion Marlon Castillo replaces Ernest Meighen in the lead as Marlon thinks about going it all alone. However, Nissan Arana, another under 23 rider like Castillo, decides to take him on; so naturally, Santino’s Michael Lewis, a master rider, hangs on his back wheel. And here is Arana leaving Michael Lewis to attack the front runner and the lead does eventually become a duo.

By the time the race reaches Hattiville, 6 riders have joined the lead two as Mateo Cruz jumps at the station prize but it’s Nissa Arana who grabs the win. Here’s a last look at the eight before they hug the curve for the big sprint to the finish. And it’s big Mike Lewis leading out Gregory Lovell, the fastest sprinter in town. Lovell makes his move but cramps up. The challenge now comes from Nissan Arana but big Mike Lewis, a veteran of many campaigns, knows how to finish and he gives Team Santino the big W in 4 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds. Nissan Arana, the Under 23 upstart from Team Typhoon O.W. has to settle for second, Gregory Lovell hangs on for third, Elston Coleman riding unattached pulls up for fourth place, Mateo Cruz of Santino’s takes fifth place, Arnidez Rivas also of Team Typhoon O.W. gets sixth place, defending champion Marlon Castillo is seventh, while Brandon Cattouse rounds out the top eight.

An elated Michael Lewis spoke to us.

Michael Lewis, Winner
“From the race start I feel like I have it. When I see the young bwoi the sprint fu the prize I seh I noh wah sprint today; I wah left ah because I will take it to the end, because he noh got the experience.”

James Adderley
“Tell us about the sprint then, you weren’t the lead-off rider?”

Michael Lewis
“Yea, I lead out Greggy but Greggy mi stop pan the end cause he ask me fu wah lead-out.”

James Adderley
“Because he didn’t respond, you took it on your own…”

Michael Lewis
“No! He respond, but he jump on me, but he start to ketch cramp. Weh yoh don’t have the experience you should sit, when yoh ketch cramp you have to sit down, but he standing up.”

James Adderley
“Did you see Arana coming?”

Michael Lewis
“Ye, but when I jump they can’t come roun’ me again.”

James Adderley
“Tell us then what this will mean to Michael Lewis.”

Michael Lewis
“You know, from I come first in Lionman I start to feel it again, but then those guys don’t realize that.”

James Adderley
“So you feel that you have a good year coming up then?”

Michael Lewis
“Yea, 2008 I feel like things are going to got great victory.”

Nissan Arana, Second Place
“Well I just mi the watch weh part everybody wah send, especially to Santino’s man they right cause da how much ah they—bout eight ah they—so that da the most man I mi the target pan, dig. So I mi the sit down an watch pan the riders, dig.”

James Adderley
“This is your first really big win, tell us how it feels, and also we want you to tell us about the sprint.”

Nissan Arana
“Well I mi feel very nice and I mi really fit— like about myself, I mi deh right deh so. And I mi feel nice about the sprinting to, so I know what I got up.”

So a masters’ rider is the overall champion but Nissan Arana is the winner in the elite class which creates some turbulence about who is the real National Road Champion of Belize 2007. On the ladies side, Marinett Flowers of Comfort Air returns to the winners circle, after posting a time of 3 hours 49 minutes 40 seconds for 62 miles journey. Shalini Zabaneh had to settle for second while Jamie Lee Usher really turned heads people, by grabbing third place. On the junior side, Allen Castillo of Team Indeco took this class in 3 hours 15 minutes 6 seconds. He beat out team-mate Geon Hanson while Rodrigo Lieva of Sugar City Boys pulled up third, making it an all Orange Walk sweep of the top three spots in this 68 mile ride and yes, O.W. might be serving notice to Belize City.

In football news, we remind you that the Central American Under 16 Football Tournament gets underway this Wednesday at the M.C.C. Grounds. Guatemala faces El Salvador at 6 p.m. In the nightcap Belize goes to work against Panama. In other football news, the Lake I Under 15 Tournament continued to roll over the weekend. Third World Element sent Dubu packing with a 1-zip W, while Backa Town and Brown Bombers battled to a 2-2 stalemate.

On the softball scene, we remind you that the Central American Junior Female Softball Championships kicks off September 28th at Roger Stadium with Guatemala facing El Salvador. Belize comes out against Nicaragua.

In basketball news, the Ladyville Championship Series saw Yoli’s force a decisive Game 3 after beating New Release 54-51 Friday night in Game 2. Game 3 comes up this Friday, September 21st, so look out for fireworks.

That’s it for now folks, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah overall. I’m James Adderley.