21 is a special number for Belize, and this year’s 21st Annual SOL Female Cross Country Classic, according to a Belize Cycling Association release last week, was the last for the SOL sponsorship, so it was a sort of farewell chapter to a long and fruitful relationship between SOL Belize Limited and the Belize Cycling Association. Ten Belizean women completed this historic 21st running of the event, which was dominated by champion Shalini Zabaneh of Team Sagitun. Shalini won most of the station prizes, the SOL Queen of the Hills $1000.00 prize, and the coveted champion’s garland as she crossed the finish line alone, completing the 71.7 mile journey in 4:26:21. She also received the champion’s trophy from Jex Trophy.com and the Brannon Brothers Memorial Trophy along with the $2,000.00 SOL 1st prize. The SOL 2nd prize of $1,000.00 was taken by Alicia Thompson (Belize Bank/BEL) who finished in 4:28:19. The SOL 3rd place prize of $700.00 went to Marinette Flowers (unattached), who out-sprinted 4th place Jamielee Usher (Sagitun), 5th Janelle Chanona (unattached), and 6th Gina Lovell (unattached), all four clocking 4:34:17. In 7th place was Jane Usher (unattached) in 5:07:29 and 8th Fiona Humes (Telemedia Swoosh) in 5:07:47. 9th place Michelle Cano (unattached) edged out 10th place Sheena Castillo (unattached), both finishing in 5:17:13.
