TORTOLA—Olympia Fahie out sprinted Patlian Johnson and Victoria Ghiorse to win Sunday’s BVI Cycling Federation Mothers Day women-only race which attracted a small field of participants. Fahie nipped Johnson at the line to finish the course from the Festival Village Site to West End and return in 1 hour, 10 minutes and 31 seconds. Johnson had the same time and Ghiorse finished in 1:10.33.

Olympia Fahie, left, holds off charging Patlian Johnson

Fahie said she decided to take the lead on the way to West End because she knew the wind would be a factor coming back to Road Town. “I knew Victoria and Patlian would have been on my tail, so that’s why I kept a steady pace and it worked out well,” Fahie explained.

Fahie described the finish as a hard sprint. “I’ve never sprinted before and Patlian was right behind me. I kept watching her wheel and Victorian kept telling me to push hard and I just kept pushing and it led me to victory.”

Johnson agreed that the sprint was tough. “I tired to pass Olympia but of course it didn’t work, but it was a good sprint because, usually when I’m finishing, I’m all by myself,” Johnson noted. “It was good to have somebody to sprint with. It was good competition.”

Stephanie Russ Penn won the shorter Expert division course and said the race was better than expected. “Once you figured how to ride through the wind, it made a big difference because when you’re on the flat, it’s easy to accelerate and get going,” Penn said. “But it was a good morning’s ride, my first, perhaps I’ll be back.”

Secretary Michel Penn broke away to win the Sport/Fun Novice division

Penn said she love when women compete and they are active. “I came out to support the Cycling Federation because I run all the time,” Penn said. “I might as well do a little cycling in between.”

Federation president David Thomas said while the numbers were smaller than last year, he was happy to see the 12 that showed. “It was a real quality field that turned out some great racing especially in the elite division,” Thomas said. “I thought the sprint in the Cable and Wireless Challenge was really good, but this is was one of the best sprints I’ve seen for the year.”

Final results: Elite Division: 1. Olympia Fahie, 1 hour, 10 minutes 31 seconds. 2. Patlian Johnson, 1:10.31. 3. Victoria Ghiorse, 1:10.33. 4. Edith Steele, 1:15.24. 5. Jackie Wilson, 1:23.06. 6. Keisha Durham, 1:31.51.

Expert: 1. Stephanie Russ Penn, 1:08.53. 2. Arlene Francis, 1:12.53.

Sport/Fun Novice: 1. Michel Penn, 48.28. 2. Shakeila Burke, 1:04.27. 3. Marsha Frett, 1:04.28. 4. Kathleen Dennis, 1:05.37.

Stephanie Russ Penn, who assists the federation, won the Expert division

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation

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