The tenth annual Belize Coast Guard Wonder Woman Challenge is underway and with one final day left, the teams are ready to see who will be named the 2026 champions. Our 7News team today captured the competition between the Belize Coast Guard, Belize Police Department and the Belize Defense Force:
These are the cheers you would hear from the members of Belize's different security forces supporting their teams in the 2026 Wonder Woman Challenge. This is the 10th annual year and the three teams are competing neck to neck to see who will be declared the champion. Former participant and coordinator Alma Pinelo says that this year, the competition is extremely high:
Commander Alma Pinelo, Vice Commandant - BCG "This year has been very interesting you know, these ladies always bring your all, we've, it's the same thing, the competition hasn't changed but every year you see something different, the competitiveness, the spirit is super high this year, it's the tenth annual so I didn't expect anything less, what I would is more women in security so we can have more teams."
And the rain couldn't stop these ladies today as they ran 6 miles in the driving rain through the John Smith Road. Pinelo says the women are going for it:
Commander Alma Pinelo, Vice Commandant - BCG "The rain this morning was a little annoying to them because you know, the weather has been one thing and outside of that it's just they really stepped their game up, they're forcing Coast Guard the reigning champs to work super hard this year so we are seeing a lot of different things, police beat Coast Guard this morning on the 6 miles run that's a first, we caught back up this afternoon, we maintained our swim and run championship, Coast Guard is always winning that so there's some things are the same some things are different but definitely the standard of fitness and readiness that these women put themselves to is what I think is improved."
Home Affairs CEO Elton Bennet was there supporting the Police Department. He says that after seeing the competition for 10 years, he has witnessed its progression.
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs "It's a very interesting feeling, to be here with the team from police, competing on the Coast Guard base against the BDF, both services of which I've served in and to see how our women in the services constantly improve their physical standard, constantly improve their leadership, constantly improve their teamwork. I know I've been observing this competition for the 10 years that it has been running so to see constant improvement every year, year after year and to see especially the police improving, I'm very very happy to be able to witness this and to be a part of it."
With the BDF leading, Lt. Cl. Roberta Usher says that they are sticking to the plan to bring home the win tomorrow.
Lt. Cl. Roberta Usher, BDF "Exhausting, it was alright though, we stuck to our plan even though it hurt but came out. We decided this year that regardless of what happens on the court or on the field, we will stick to what we trained for and what we planned for. If it works it works, if it doesn't at least we stuck to the plan. I don't know because everybody is really competitive this year, I want to think it's our teamwork and I fully believe that it's sticking to the plan."
The event is scheduled during women's month and according to Pinelo this shows that women can be multifaceted:
Commander Alma Pinelo, Vice Commandant - BCG "I think it goes definitely towards I can do this and more, you know a lot of these women outside of the fact that they are being paid to train, you have women that also have to deal with their regular day jobs as well, these are working women, they're mothers some of them are single mothers, some of them have multiple children and so it's just that I can do everything in spite of everything you throw against me."
Would you like me to create a summary table of the day's results between the BCG, BDF, and Police teams?
The BDF is leading but tomorrow will determine the winners with the March and Shoot and the crucible.
