Jose Choto carries on family tradition in Lionman
Good evening I?m James Adderley and it?s certainly a pleasure bringing to you this show we call Sports Monday. The seventh Lionman Triathlon gripped Belize City yesterday at its staging point, Sandlighters Promenade and it was only fitting that the national anthem was rendered by two of the most accomplished musicians in Belize saxophonist Chris Bradshaw and guitarist Mark Philips.
So let?s join these six athletes already inside the Caribbean Sea representing the six teams competing for the best overall time from half mile of swimming, thirteen miles of biking, and three miles of running in the relay event … So people let?s get busy.
Big time props to Keith Urano of the Japan Association who wowed the crowd with a magnificent swim that gave his team at least a four minute lead.
The tag is made to his biker Asoko Sasaki, but this young lady was victimised by the variables in cycling. She experienced a fall and had a wheel puncture and that does negate the big lead she had been handed.
Who gained the advantage from this mishap at the end of the cycle ride is Vista Amphilife as Jason Badillo pulled up for first to tag Roger Espejo who sets off on the run. Three minutes later it?s Mr. Espejo looking good, but he is certainly being challenged severely by Kevin Seroki, running for Team Bonez.
Vista Amphilife takes the relay in one hour twenty-two minutes twenty-six seconds and we say congratulations to Hannah Aguilar, Jason Badillo and Roger Espejo.
Bonez consisting of Gilda Diaz, Douglas Lamb and Kevin Seroki finished ten seconds later to take second, while Confort Air featuring Lawrence Dawson, Noel Leal, and Esperanza Leal pulled up third.
Now here?s the start of the big Lionman event and these are the twenty-nine athletes making a bid this morning in the point nine-three mile of swim, twenty-four point eight miles of riding and six point two miles of running.
And the calm of the Barracks is shattered as the event blasts off. Folks we give maximum respect to Jon Self, who proved that in the waters he simply had no competition. That red cap is worn by Jim Scott and we all now he?s one to watch in this event. He is the second athlete to come out the water.
Of course, the Choto Brothers, defending champion Giovanni and last year?s running up in the elite class Jose Choto, remain within striking distance. Veteran competitor Dr. Ramon Figueroa was able to hang along.
That?s right Janelle, it?s your sibling Jamie Lee Usher becoming the first female to get out of the water. Of course Jamie Lee must keep track of defending female champion Shalini Zabaneh, who is not too far behind.
In the meantime we take our hats off to Dr. Edward Schalonka, a seventy-four year young athlete, who makes his annual appearance in the Lionman event. And he finished these events every time. Yes doc, you?re one to emulate, so go deh strong and stay deh strong!
Nevertheless folks, by the time the thirteen miles of cycling is completed we have a new leader in the person of Jose Choto. Super swimmer Jon Self pulls up second and then Giovanni Choto and Jim Scott make their appearances and they?re off.
Yes folks, there?s a change in the lead in the ladies category in this event as the new driver emerging is defending champion Shalini Zabaneh. Here is two time champion Kenroy ?Smoke? Gladden making up ground in the third lap of this run.
Okay, its money time now and there are no challengers for Jose Choto who grabs his first ever Lionman in two hours, twenty-eight minutes, forty-seven seconds representing C Ray.
And here is Kenroy ?Smoke? Gladden with a mighty finish to grab second place and we have proof he deserves it. Smoke was clocked at two hours, forty-one minutes, twenty seconds.
Meet Peter Choto, the youngest of the Choto brothers at fifteen. He steps up to grab third place overall take along the Junior title 2006 in two hours, forty-two minutes, thirty-six seconds.
Now here?s is Jim Scott finishing fifth overall, but grabbing the Masters title in two hours, forty-five minutes, nineteen seconds. And Jim you have been in there a long time but boy you certainly are in the elite of the elites.
Congratulations also to Patrick Palacio who finished ninth in the overall class and second in the Masters category.
Dr. Ramon Figueroa?s time of two hours, fifty-one minutes, fifty-two seconds was good enough to give him third place in the Masters and we say good show doc.
And if you?re wondering about the ladies competition, here is the defending champion Shalini Zabaneh repeating her w from last year with a time of two hours, fifty-six minutes, fourteen seconds.
Jamie Lee Usher came in second some six minutes later, while Jane Usher rounds out the top three … So let?s do it again next year.
Jose Choto, 1st Overall, Lionman Triathlon
?I tried my luck in everything. I am not that good in swimming, but I push as hard as I could and what I wasn?t good on I pushed harder on the other thing. So what I am not good at will level off with the next one. Mainly on foot I had a big advantage and the cycling.?
James Adderley, Reporting
?You are second place now tell us how that feel??
Kenroy ?Smoke? Gladden, 2nd Overall, Lionman Triathlon
?That feel much greater because I know I the put in work for first or second. So I expected to come in first or second, from last night I said it would be first or second. On the ride I tried to execute twenty-four miles and hour and tried not to exceed that because I know if I exceeded that I would burn up my legs. So when I reached twenty-four I just lock it off and keep it right there. On the running I am way better than a lot of them that is where I have my strength.?
Jim Scott, 1st Masters Category, Lionman Triathlon
?I really think the heat took a toll on me. I know my running time in Costa Rica was better and it was a more challenging course. It was tough for everybody I am sure, but at forty-four it worked me.?
Shalini Zabaneh, 1st, Female Category, Lionman Triathlon
?I guess I got a little left behind in the water, but I am glad for my two years of bike experience. I was able to catch up and pass them down.?
James Adderley
?Your strongest challenge came from Jamie Lee, tell us about that.?
Shalini Zabaneh
?Yeah, she is a great swimmer and I am proud of her for competing today, and my cousin Jane. They really did good.?
In football news, here are the results from play in the R.F.G. Tournament over the weekend. Belmopan Bandits and F.C. Belize struggled to a scoreless draw; Wagiya and Alpha settled for a 2-2 stalemate; while Hankook Verdes handed Acros Lake a 3-zip bomb.
On the ladies side, Emmanuel beat Pomona Hidden Treasure 1-nil, B.F.L.A. beat Lake I 3-zip, while Gentle Touch and Griga Ambassador battled to a 1-1 finish.
In lawn tennis news, the fifth international Belize and Mexico friendship tournament was staged at the Belize Pickwick Club over the weekend. Matthew Soto of France was able to get past Mexican Rojelio Guerrero in three tough sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to get into the finals, while Jerome Suhtil of Mexico rolled past Enrique Bautista 6-1, 7-5, to set this all French finals. Jerome Suhtil prevailed over his countryman 6-4, 6-3 to take the open male title and we say congratulations.
In the ladies open singles event Samira Musa Pott beat Judith Swift 6-0, 6-1 to take that championship, while in the men?s masters doubles event Dr. Raju and David Madrid combined their effort to stop Billy Musa Junior and Sonny Meighan 6-2, 7-6 for that title.
Turning to the bodybuilding scene, here?s a look at the mighty pose down in the Junior B category of the Mr. Belize event staged at the Bliss Centre Friday night. And we?ll just remind the contestants that its shape not motion that matters most.
Deon Banner takes third place, Elsworth Tillett is judge to be second. Meet Michael Buckely who takes top honours.
At the Junior A Class we have on three takers. This line-up shows exactly the finish as decided by the judge. To your left in black Michael Buckely returns to take the top prize. He beats out his brother Linford Buckley, while Colville Cassimiro took third.
In the Masters Class, its Dillon Jones, Joseph McClaren, and Joseph Obisbo vying for the W.
As we run through this picture we?ve got to agreed with the judges decision. It?s Dillon Jones with the title, Joseph Obispo is second, while Joseph McClaren is third.
Folks we know how take this mount to view the Female Body Fitness category, which features five of the best packaged beauties in the business and we must say the judges do appear to have their hands filled this time.
Anyway, the judges do decide that Kayla Myvette wears the crown, Gina Lovell is second, while Shakira Oxley finishes third.
Of course the big boys do come out to play and from left to right are Michael Buckley, Joseph Obispo, Roger Sutherland, and Deon Danderson. This routine delivers a third place verdict for Michael Buckley. Roger Sutherland again has to settle for second place, and Roger your very close to the top.
However, the pinnacle this time belongs to Deon Danderson, who is a mighty work in progress and we say congratulations to Mr. Belize 2006.
Hey folks that?s our show for now. We invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah, over all I am James Adderley.
