After two extremely successful days, T&T junior cyclists had a subdued performance on yesterday’s third day of the Pan American Junior Cycling Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Firstly, the pair of Jody Goodridge (13.53 seconds) and Aziza Browne (13.60 seconds, a personal best) were 13th and 14th respectively in the Flying 200m and did not make the quarterfinal as one of the top eight. Meanwhile, Akil Campbell was not able to mount the podium in the grueling 25km points race, in which cyclists circled the 250m track a total of 100 times.

On Tuesday, Browne and Goodridge secured gold when they pedalled to victory in the women’s team sprint in 37.16 seconds, to become only the second local women’s team to win a gold medal at an international competition. Colombia was second in 37.20 while Guatemala took bronze in 38.14. In the qualifying stages, the TT women advanced with the fastest qualifying time of 37.17 seconds ahead of Colombia (37.58), Mexico (38.57), Guatemala (38.57), Canada (38.76), Brazil (38.78) and Ecuador (39.28). T&T’s Justin Roberts reached the quarterfinals of the Men’s Flying 200m before he was eliminated by a Colombian in three rides.

Roberts was then forced to compete in the fifth to eighth place ride-off but due to injuries sustained in an earlier fall, he did not take up his position and was replaced by teammate Mahabir to contest the keirin event today. In the earlier stages of the Flying 200m, Roberts had advanced with the second fastest qualifying time of 10.81s but he fell in Heat Two after being closed down by a Colombian cyclist, who was later disqualified for dangerous and unsportman-like antics. Roberts was allowed a re-ride in which he took full advantage. Finishing ahead of Roberts in the qualifiers were Canada (10.74s) and Colombia (10.82s).

Countrymen, Kwesi Browne and Samuel Mahabir did not achieve times in their rides. On Monday, the local team of Browne, Mahabir and Roberts pedalled to gold in the men’s sprint in 47.98 to beat Argentina and Mexico in silver and bronze medal places. Goodridge got bronze in the women’s 500m time trial in 37.86 seconds, a new national record in both the local Junior and Senior women’s category while Browne was eighth in 39.35. Colombian Martha Bayona won gold in 37.04 and Aline Taime of Mexico, silver in 37.627.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

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