A SMALL but enthusiastic bunch of cyclists added to the entertainment package at the second annual Joseph Payne Memorial Classic at the National Stadium last Saturday.
In the BMX division, Shamar Rollins outsprinted Charmaine Bishop and Gavin Narine to win the one-lap 500 metres.
Rollins did the double, also winning the handicap event. Riders were spaced along the Randolph Field Velodrome according to their ability and Rollins had to come from the back of the pack, overtaking Bishop and Jahmali Padmore in the process.
Little Tyrese Rollins also made his BMX debut at the meet and seemed to enjoy his rides despite finishing at the back of the field.
The spoils were shared among the older riders.
Edwin Sutherland can count himself lucky after winning the 1 000m sprint. Mario Thomas had left the field behind by more than 50 metres and seemed to have the race locked down when his right foot slipped off the pedal in from of the Louis Lynch Stand.
He was going at quite a clip and although he tried to get it back in, he had to slow down to do so.
Sutherland took advantage of his good fortune to sprint into the lead and raced for home with a healthy advantage but Thomas recovered and closed to within ten metres at the finish.
Ajani Miller was third.
Kristin Vanderpool won the unknown distance.
The riders tried to bait each other, hoping to catch someone napping, since they didn’t know when the bell would ring signalling the final lap. In this case it was over 1 500 metres.
The lead changed several times and the riders used the banks to feel out each other. With about 250 metres to go, Vanderpool decided to head for home and was able to hold off Thomas and Sutherland. (SAT)
