There were no big surprises in yesterday’s 21st Annual SOL Female Cross Country Classic, where last year’s runner-up and recent Central American Games silver medalist Shalini Zabaneh of Team Sagitun made her move early in the 71.7-mile race from San Ignacio to Belize City, and rode solo the rest of the way from Black Man Eddie, to take the garland as well as the Queen of the Hills check and a bunch of station prizes along the way.
Last year’s champion, Guatemalan Paola Salazar, Shalini’s Sagitun teammate, did not participate this year; and, with the form Shalini had displayed in the recent Pablo Marin Classic, followed by her international representations, there was not much expected in the way of threats from the local competition. But, in what was a small surprise, Alicia Thompson, riding for Belize Bank/BEL, raised eyebrows when she made a gallant effort, leaving the sluggish chase group behind, and put up a chase of lead rider Shalini Zabaneh as she neared Belize City. Shalini, who had been cruising with a comfortable 3-minute lead, had to pick up the pace to keep Alicia at bay. Shalini crossed the finish line alone in 4:26:21, with Alicia also coming in alone in 2nd place almost two minutes later in 4:28:19.
11 cyclists started the race, and only one, Anthea Sutherland, who had bicycle problems early in the race, failed to finish. And fans were treated to a finishing sprint with a group of four, who arrived about 6 minutes after Alicia, in a battle for 3rd place. Winning that 3rd place sprint was Marinette Flowers (unattached), followed by 4th place Jamielee Usher (Sagitun), 5th Janelle Chanona (unattached) and 6th Gina Lovell (unattached), all clocking 4:34:17.
Though outside the Belize Cycling Association (BCA) official time limit of 30 minutes after the winner, with such a small field of contestants, we thought it important to record the 4 other cyclists who persevered to complete the journey. Coming in 7th was Jane Usher (unattached) in 5:07:29; 8th was Fiona Humes (Telemedia Swoosh) in 5:07:47; winning a sprint for 9th place was first time participant Michelle Cano (unattached), ahead of 10th place Sheena Castillo (unattached), both in a time of 5:17:13.
(The crowd had already departed and some vehicular traffic already entering Marine Parade near the finish when the last two cyclists were approaching in their sprint to the finish. Luckily there was no incident; but in the future the BCA may want to avoid such a reoccurrence.)
In the ceremonies that followed the races, champion Shalini Zabaneh was presented with the Championship Trophy by Mr. Reginal Jex of Jex Trophies, as well as with the Brannon Brothers Memorial Trophy, presented by BCA Secretary Yvonne Robinson, the Queen of the Hills check presented by SOL’s Ms. Angie Marin, and the traditional garland by 6-time champion Camille Solis. The top three cyclists each also received a trophy and check presented by Ms. Angie Marin on behalf of SOL Belize Limited, who themselves received a plaque from Mr. Melvin Torres on behalf of the BCA in appreciation for their years of sponsorship of the SOL Female Cross Country Classic.