Photo: Top 5 in BCC Triathlon 2024: (l to r) 4th Kent “Bob” Gabourel, 2nd Kian Trejo, 1st Francisco Lima, 3rd Mauro Cucul, and 5th Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden
by William Ysaguirre
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 2, 2024
Francisco Lima of Flores, Peten, won the 2nd annual Belize City Council (BCC) Triathlon held along the Newtown Barracks and Marine Parade, finishing at the Memorial Park on Sunday morning, December 1.
Lima was 4th out of the water in the 800 meters swim leg, and was 5th at the end of the 11.42 miles bike ride; but he outdistanced his rivals on the 3.1-mile run, clocking 1:08:59 to win the title.
Kian Trejo of San Pedro, Belize’s triathlete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, was 2nd out of the water and finished 2nd in 1:10:22; while Mauro Cucul of the Westrac Slick Runners was 3rd out of the water and took 3rd place in 1:11:52.
Kent “Bob” Gabourel, Belize’s triathlete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finished 4th in 1:13:04, while 3-times Lionman champion, Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden was 6th out of the water to round out the top 5 in 1:15:15. Hollis Baptist of the Kaya Invaders was 6th in 1:18:54, while Kelvin Aguirres of the Foothills Runners finished 7th in 1:25:29.
Photo: Daylan Cruz – 1st Junior
Daylan Cruz of the Hells Bells team won the Junior Men’s Individual Triathlon in 38:22.6, while Kyson Vernon finished 2nd in 48:52.6.
Photo: Senior Men’s Relay Team winners: (l to r) Leon Leslie (ride), Levi Contreras (run), and Juan Dussan (swim)
The Juan-Leon-Jesus team won the Senior Men’s Team Relay, with Juan Dussan finishing the swim in 16:20.5, Leon Leslie clocked 26:58 on the ride, and Levi Contreras of San Pedro ran a blazing 15:40 minutes in the 3.1-mile run, to finish 1st in 59:24.3. The Rebel team: Mauro Cucul, Byron Pope, and Albert Davis ran 2nd in 59:52.4; and the Coast Guard-Lovell team of Kiluvert Cal, Giovanni Lovell, and Ariel Avila took 3rd place in 1:01:01.5.
The G-Flow Cyclists team of Eric Trapp swimming, Jyven Gonzalez on the bike, and Derrick Chavarria in the run, finished 4th in 1:03:05.4. The Tri-Athletic Avengers: Kian Trejo, Steven Jorgenson and Fred Usher, Jr. ran 5th in 1:05:29.2.
Photo: Mixed Relay Team Winners: (l to r) Tyrin Tasher, Mirtha Welch, Leon Guild
The G-Flow team of Leon Guild, Tyrin Tasher and Mirtha Welch won first prize in the Mixed Relay in 1:18:47.9.
The Chill Guys: Kyson Vernon in the swim, Devyn Major on the bike, and Tamia Bennett in the run, won the Junior Relay in 31:16; while the Wesley team: Aryanna Mendoza in the swim, Jalynn Gentle and Kerwin Guild finished 2nd in 32:15, and the Tri Hards: Christopher Encalada, Kelsi Castillo and Jalen O’Brien ran 3rd in 33:07.1.
Photo: Junior Relay Team Winners: (l to r) Kyson Vernon (swim), Tamia Bennett (run), Devyn Major (ride)
The Hells Bells team: Daylan Cruz in the swim, Kaelie Burgess on the bike, and Daniel Cruz on the run, finished 4th in 34:05.1. The Ahmaad team: Andre Enriquez, Ahmaad Cherrington and Davae McCaulay ran 5th in 35:07.2. The Esperanza Boys: Emil Hecker, Vicente Pech and Shaheda McKoy were 6th in 35:38.3; and the Wesley-1 team: Mark Pennil, Chelsey Gillett and Mark Montlasir finished 7th in 36:00.2.
City Councillor Kaya Cattouse presented trophies, medals and prizes to the winners in the awards ceremony after the race.