Mateo Cruz claims victory in Masters Cross Country
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and we welcome you to this issue of Sports Monday.
We take you immediately to in front of Garbutt’s Texaco Gas Station inside Roaring Creek where the ninety-mile Masters Cross Country Classic is about to take off featuring thirty riders whose classification demands they must be thirty years and over.
And they’re off in the search of fame and glory in a package sponsored by the C-Rays Cycling Team.
But take a good luck at the pack enroute to the turn around point at Santa Elena because the break does come early.
At the turn around point in front of Loma Luz it’s a five-man lead featuring Mateo Cruz, Orlando Chavarria, George Abraham, Adrian Faux and Jeffrey Zelaya.
Heading to Mount Hope inside Unitedville it’s still a five-man lead but the stress and wear is beginning to show on a few in the lead pack.
By the time the race runs past Rockville the lead pack is down to three.
Two minutes behind is the chase group which includes Elbert Pope, Big Mike Lewis and Ernest Meighan.
Nevertheless, it’s a three-man sprint to the finish line in front of Leslie’s Imports at the Belize City entrance. Mateo Cruz, of Santino’s, for a second week in a row emerges the big man timed at three hours, fifty-one minutes, forty-eight seconds and we say congratulations. Jeffrey Zelaya of Benny’s Megabytes takes second; Adrian Faux of Santino’s pulls up third and he also takes first place in our forty category which is classified as Masters B; Big Mike Lewis pulls up fourth and Ernest Meighan rounds out the top fifth overall. Santino Castillo who finished nineteenth overall took home the top honours in the over fifty category which is Masters C.
Mateo Cruz, Winner, Masters Cross Country
“When I attack, two time, three times I saw , weh di guy name, Chavarria and a guy from Megabytes and Adrian move with me and I told them let’s run it. I felt strong and I’m comfortable and Jeffrey was sitting on most of the time but I felt good. On the return journey I saw it was like one minute to one minute and a half so I just step it up on the hills and have everybody work except Jeffrey and that’s how we came through with the victory today.”
In other cycling news the Lake Independence Community Development Group presents the 1st ever Mountain Bike Tour from 29th March to 1st April. It’s a four stage mountain bike event that you certainly won’t want to miss.
In softball news, Sunday brought up the season awards in the Inter-office Competition and Senior Competition; both were held at the Roger’s Stadium.
At the Inter-office level, Ryan Miller had the most stolen bases; Arlette Castillo the most wins; Michael Pollard the most strikeouts – all belonging to the team K.H.M.H; Godsen Ferguson of the Belize City Council was voted Best Outfielder while Kareem Michael of Customs/Central Bank emerged M.V.P. and Best Infielder.
In the Senior Competition B.T.L. Rookies took the season title, Advance Strikers took the runner-up spot; Patrick Rowland had the most stolen bases and Rookie of the Year; Brandon Bood the most wins; Jason Belisle the most strikeouts; Nelbert Flowers had the highest batting average, batted in the most runs, had the most homeruns and emerged with M.V.P. honours.
In cricket news, Sunrise of Lords Bank needed to run down the one hundred and fifty-seven runs posted by Surprise of Lemonal in their turn at bat but fell short with all for one hundred and twenty-eight.
In other results, Wicked Eleven beat Burlan 92-83; Campari Fever stopped Bright Star 154-153 with three wickets to spare; Sailows of St. Paul’s overwhelmed Western Eagles 145-89; Brilliant of Crooked Tree rolled over Northern Star 144-132.
Meanwhile folks, the All Star Game in the Belize Rural Competition is set for this Saturday at Lords bank with Zone I facing Zone II at 10:00 a.m.
Turning to the football scene, week four of the Regents Cup Tournament saw F.C. Belize host Hankook Verdes United of Cayo inside the M.C.C. Grounds in a ballgame that needed a bit more excitement.
John Smith’s outside punch tried to provide some but the 1st half lead for F.C. Belize was denied by the Verdes keeper William Luna.
In fact we’re fifty minutes into the ballgame when the 1st goal comes and you can clearly see Trevor Lennon of Verdes hands the ball inside the eighteen.
F.C. Belize sends Tyrone Muschamp to execute and he makes it look so easy.
Goal number 2 comes when McCauly sets table for Paul Nunez as F.C. Belize goes on to post the 2-zip win in regulation time, making it 4 straight wins to start the season.
In other action in Group A, Tex Mar jolted Wagiya 1-nil and Belmopan Bandits burned Toledo United by that same score.
Over in Group B, Suga Boys Juventus doubled up S.P. Costa Del Sol Nairi’s 2-1, Santel’s clubbed Lake I 4-1 and Alpha Glitters hurt Revolutionary Conquerors 2-1.
Looking to week 5 the schedule looks like this: In Group A, on Saturday Tex Mar Boys will host the Toledo United Team at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in a ballgame that starts at 7:30 p.m.; Belmopan bandits will also be at home hosting F.C. Belize in another 7:30 start; Hankook Verdes United comes out on Sunday, they’ll be inside the Marshalleck Stadium playing host to Wagiya.
Over in Group B, Suga Boys Juventus sees Santel’s at the People’s Stadium, it’s a 4:00 p.m. start; also on Sunday Revolutionary Conquerors will take on SP Costa Del Sol Nairi’s at 4:00 p.m. and Lake I will take on Alpha Glitters inside the M.C.C. Grounds, game time is 4:00 p.m.
Hey folks, that’s it for now. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
