And while Mr. Belize is the most awesome athlete, and the cross country winner may be the most celebrated, the man and woman who boasts that they are the Iron Lion or Lioness holds a special place in the local pantheon of sport. In it's seventh year, the Lion Man Triathlon has become a September staple and a staging ground for the country's most elite athletes, those that can swim, ride, and run great distances in one outing. In yesterday's annual event, those distances were a 0.93-mile swim, a 24.8 mile ride, and a 5.2 mile run. It started on Sunday morning at Sandlighter's Promenade and 7NEWS was there.
Jules VasquezReporting,
The day began on Sandlighter's Promenade with a special acoustics version of the anthem by Mark Philips and Chris Bradshaw
The trophies were laid out and the ones with their eyes most on the prize were the Choto brothers, Jose, Peter, Rafael and Giovanni. And while their eyes were on the prize, all eyes were on number 10, Giovanni Choto, the defending champion, only 18 years old.
As the preparations continued, relay triathlete teammates Douglas Lamb and Kevin Seroki went over the route. While the Sagitun team, including defending female champ of the individual race Shalini Zabaneh and her mom, and that's right: Madam Speaker Betty Zabaneh putting on her cycling gear for the relay triathlon.
At the relay swimmers are off from in front of Sandlighter's for one circuit of the half-mile route Japanese swimmer Kita Urano was first to finish and hand off to his rider Asako Kasaki. Dennis Diaz handed over to Douglas 'Barcelona' Lamb and while they had the lead, the Sagitun team had the big names. Peter Usher handed over to his aunt Elizabeth Zabaneh - Madam Speaker herself who took to the road with her daughter Isella - who on this day was a rival - though both rode under Sagitun sponsorship
On the circuit Douglas Lamb was chomping it up while Madam Speaker kept a stately pace.
And while the cyclists were riding, the individual triathletes took off on the first leg of what was for them a one mile swim. BATSUB entrant Jon Self jumped out to the early lead. For the women Jamie Lee Usher took the lead and at the halfway mark, Self maintained his pronounced lead over Jim Scott. And while safety teams had to stay on standby for some swimmers, Self needed no help at all. He was the first to finish and head out on the bike followed by Jim Scott. Next in were a wave of Chotos - led by defending champ Giovanni. At the time they were four minutes behind leader Jon Self
For the females Jamie Lee Usher was the first out of the water and the first on her. Jane Usher was next and defending champ Shalini Zabaneh was after that. She was followed out of the water by Kenroy Gladden, a two time champ and in this case almost eight minutes behind the leader. Lion Man founder "Beep" Phillips at the back of the pack on this day and one of the last to get out of the water was 74-year-old Dr. Edward Schelonka, participating in his fourth Lion Man contest.
On the circuit, the Choto brothers worked together and Kenroy Gladden was right behind them while Self took to the road alone and Shalini Zabenah tried to make up ground on Jamie Lee Usher.
And while Schelonka had to give a wave to his fans, Jose Choto had no time for that. He made up time on the ride and would be the first to finish the 25 mile ride and switch off to the run. Jon Self lost his lead from the swim but he was close behind followed by Giovanni Choto and Jim Scott while Kenroy Gladden almost toppled at the line. And on the ride Shalini Zabaneh regained those minutes she lost in the water and was the first female to finish the circuit followed by Jamie Lee Usher.
And while the women got applause - the decided crowd favorite was Dr. Schelonka. On the route, Kenroy Gladden kept up an impressive pace on the run while defending champion Giovanni Choto was some ways back and his brother was not far behind him. But in the end - of the four Choto's, it would be biggest brother Jose who would claim the victory for the C-Ray team.
Jules Vasquez,
How you did it this year?
Jose Choto, Winner
"Well training."
Jules Vasquez,
What made the race different from one year to the other?
Jose Choto,
"Because I trained a little harder on swimming and I stayed closer and all the hard work that I put in paid off noh."
Jules Vasquez,
You didn't roll in with your brothers as you did last year. You left them out there?
Jose Choto,
"Yeah because the race was a different race. This year it was everybody on their own and so we had to go and 'lef one another but we were training together and we were doing good on foot and I knew if they didn't beat me by at least ten minutes in the water, I wouldn't have problems with them because I am good on foot so that is what helps me a lot, foot and bike."
Jules Vasquez,
How important is this for you? I know you started out as a cyclist but how important is a race like this to show their different skills?
Jose Choto,
"Well my main is cycling but the Lion Man is a tough race and I take it as an off season for cycling and to do cross training which helps you a lot."
The second finisher was Kenroy Gladden from the 'Nothing is impossible team.'
Kenroy Gladden, Second Place
"I feel good because I know I put in my work this year. I expected to come better."
Jules Vasquez,
I saw you weren't great on swimming but you did improve on swimming from the last years.
Kenroy Gladden,
"Improved a little bit but not to the expectations of myself because I think I should have put in a little bit more swimming but due to that mountain bike race on the 27th I had to focus more on biking and less on swimming."
Jules Vasquez,
You put in your work but those Choto brothers are hard to because they ride as a team out there as well. Do you have a strategy or a plan to beat them next year?
Kenroy Gladden,
"Well all I need to do is work out a little harder in the water and make sure that I get a roads bike because the bike play a big difference. If I had a road bike, I would have kept up with them because I have already draft on two of them already because I saw two of them working together so I just tried to set in on my mountain bike but it is harder on a mountain bike than a road bike so next year I really need to find somebody who will give me a road bike to deal with them properly."
And for the women, Shalini Zabaneh repeated as champion.
Shalini Zabenah, Female Winner
"I guess I got a little left behind in the water but I am glad for my two years of bike experience and I was able to catch up and pass them down."
James Adderley, Channel 5 News
"Your strongest challenge came from Jamie Lee.
Shalini Zabenah,
"Yeah she is a great swimmer. I am really proud of her for competing today on my cousin's team. She is really doing good."
James Adderley,
"Now that you have met the challenge what does this win in 2006 mean?"
Shalini Zabenah,
"I am very happy. I did a lot of hard work so I just have to thank God. I pray to him every night, I think he is tired of hearing me, and so I am thankful to him for my strength and my family for always supporting me."
As female winner, Shalini Zabaneh won $300 in cash. She finished right about in the middle of the pack of the 30 participants. In the male competition, the Choto brothers secured first, third, fourth and fifth. Male winner Jose Choto won $500 and a trophy. The relay was claimed by team: Vista Amphilife Belize with the swim by Hanna Aguilar, the ride by Jason Badillo and the run by Roger Espejo.
