Cubans continue Beacon dominance

CUBAN duo Joel Marino and Julio Herreira won four of the five international races as the ‘West Indies versus The World’ cycling series, sponsored by Beacon Insurance Company Limited, continued at the Arima Velodrome on Friday night.

Marino, who has been in great form throughout the three-week contest, claimed the night’s premier contest, the Republic Bank-sponsored 25-lap race, on the stroke of midnight, ahead of Canadian Jeff Randall and Colombian Carlos Alzates. Earlier on the night, Marino copped the Play Whe-sponsored elimination with Abraham, Colombian Carlos Alzates and Cuban Michael Pedrosa trailing.

Another Cuban with double success on the night was Herreira, with gold in the Angostura Aromatic Bitters three-lap event, followed by Marino, Pedrosa and Ivan Verba of the Czech Republic. Herreira then sped to victory in the one-lap final, leaving Pedrosa, Pavel Buran of the Czech Republic and Scotland’s Robin Thompson in his wake.

The lone international race won by “The World” team was the five-lap race, sponsored by Yoplait Yogurt, with Buran victorious in two minutes 48.43 seconds, with countryman Verba the runner-up, Pedrosa third and Abraham fourth. Action in the 2003 series concludes today at the Arima Velodrome from 5 pm.

Other Results — Invitational Flying 200m: 1. Julio Herrera (Cuba) 11.28 sec; 2. Robin Thompson (Scotland) 11.80; 3. Azikiwe Kellar (unattached) 11.83; 4. Michael Pedrosa (Cuba) 11.85; 5. Clinton Grant (unattached) 11.88; 6. Pavel Buran (Czech Republic) 11.92; 7. Ivan Verba (Czech Republic) 11.94; 8. Arnost Dremanck (Czech Republic) 12.00.
Category 13-Laps: 1. Ako Kellar; 2. Clinton Grant; 3. Stephen Mangroo; 4. Shannon Metivier.
Juniors 4-Laps: 1. Adam Alexander; 2. Marlon Williams; 3. Haseem McLean; 4. Keron Archargee.
Juveniles, Tinymites and Handicap 4-Laps: 1. Jonathan Rawlins; 2. Quincy Jones; 3. Bevon Luces; 4. Dwayne Auguste.
Juniors 6-Laps: 1. Adam Alexander; 2. Jorge Emerson; 3. Haseem McLean; 4. Christopher Sellier.
Category 15-Laps: 1. Ray Phillip; 2. Clinton Grant; 3. Ako Kellar; 4. Stephen Mangroo.
Category 1, 2 & 3 15-Laps: 1. Shannon Metivier; 2. Clinton Grant; 3. Adam Alexander; 4. Roger Smart.