Olympia enroute to victory!

Christchurch, BARBADOS-Despite not receiving her bicycle until after 11pm Friday, and still not receiving her clothes, Olympia Fahie gave the BVI it’s second cycling gold medal today when she won the time trial at the Caribbean Junior Championships.

With a very small field and no real competition, Fahie covered the 15km(9.3 mile) course in 27mins 31secs…a full 5minutes faster than the second place finisher. “I am disappointed and upset that I didn’t have any competition, but I am happy that I won,” Fahie said.” “I liked the course, even though it was a bit too hilly, but I felt good…I think that the training in Atlanta made me faster, but it would have been nice to have the Puerto Ricans girls here to really see, but I’m still happy.” With the championships being rescheduled because of hurricane Dean, defending women junior champions, Puerto Rico didn’t show up to the championships along with all of the French Caribbean islands. “It was very disappointing that it didn’t have more than 3 women represented,” BVI Cycling Federation President, David Thomas said. “It would have been great to see how she would have done against the Puerto Ricans, and the French women, but we will have to wait again….but we have the medal so that’s all that counts!”

In the junior men, Darel Christopher JR was a respectable 11th in a field the saw 24 fierce competitors and the course stretched from 15km to 25km (15.5miles). While Barbados swept the podium, and Antigua secured the 4th place spot, places 5 thru 11 were separated by mere seconds. “I felt good, I was comfortable, but the hills were too much for me,” Darel stated. “I know that I was faster than last year and I did the things that I was taught to do in Atlanta, so I feel good about my finish. I will do better tomorrow in the road race.” Asked what he felt about Christopher’s performance? “He looked good, comfortable,” Thomas said. “I told both of them yesterday how to ride thru the hills. Some were nice and rolling, but the one 2 miles from the finish was a killer. Seeing that we couldn’t follow them on the road I don’t know what happened on the course, but I know that he (Darel) caught his 3 minute man and that is always a good indication that you are going fast. The junior men is a tough division to be in cause the competition is so good, but I am happy with how Darel rode today.”

Darel Jr. starting his tt run.

The championships continue tomorrow, Sunday, with the 90km (55mile) road race.

All smiles on top of the podium again.

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