Regional News
Olympia Fahie wins the inaugural Caribbean Cycling Junior/Women Championships Individual Time Trial!!!
By Rudebwoy
Oct 2, 2006, 09:01

Caribbean Cadet Cycling Champion Olympia Fahie with the runners up from Puerto Rico.

HATIILLO, Puerto Rico-Starting in 2nd position off the start ramp, junior cyclist, Olympia Fahie overtook her one minute girl just before the first turn around point, enroute to becoming the BVI’s 1st gold medal cyclist!!! With the new category being introduced to the championships, the team felt confidant that the cyclists would do well at the first annual junior championships. With only 3 cyclists registered for the Cadet Girls category, team management knew that the competition could favor them. “I was always confident that they would do well, but my confidence grew after seeing that there were only 3 girls in that division even though I knew that it would still be tough because the girls were from Puerto Rico” team manager, David Thomas said. “When I looked through my zoom lens and saw it was Olympia coming, I was shocked and thrilled at the same time!” Riding one lap of the 13.4 km (8.74 mile) course, Olympia finished the course in 22 minutes 24 seconds. “I thought my performance was great,” Olympia said. “I could have done a bit better but I didn’t know where the finish was so I stopped before I should have, but then I heard Neil and Tony saying go go, so I had to regain my momentum, but it worked out in the end and I won the gold!” “It’s a great day for cycling and a great day for the BVI!!” Thomas stated. “Olympia has just done what nobody else has….win a gold medal at the Caribbean Cycling Championship with the heads of COPACI on had to witness it. I am so proud right now that I can cry.”

In the Cadet Boys race, Darel Christopher Jr. was in a 6 way chase for the gold, but ended up 6th. “Man that was an exciting race. The first 6 finishers were all within 30 seconds of each other.” Thomas said. “I am proud and happy for him too, cause he fought hard in the beginning, but lost it in the end. He definitely went out to hard in the beginning and because of the rolling terrain it hurt him in the end….who knows we might have had another podium spot if it weren’t for that.” Christopher stated, “I felt good in the beginning, but I couldn’t get to breathe in the end. I think that the a/c in the room messed with my throat.

Darel Jr beginning his ITT run.

I’m disappointed, but I still think that I did good.” In the Elite Women’s ITT, fitness guru Lisa Adamson over came a scary fall of off the 6ft high starting ramp and had the most exciting finish of the day out sprinting Bermuda’s Kim McMullen to finish in 5th place. “I was so nervous that I couldn’t get control of the bike.” Lisa said. ”After I fell, I got mad and rode with vengeance.” And vengeance she did. Losing a minute after the fall, Lisa regaining her composure, and stayed within 20 seconds of McMullen. “I felt like I could catch her, but I didn’t want to blow my legs and then she rode away from me.” The fall scared everybody, including race winner, Marie Rosado. “I saw her fall and said oh my god I hope that she didn’t hurt herself;” Rosado stated. “I was happy when I saw her get back on the bike and ride off….she rode very strong!” The entire BVI delegation held its collective breaths when Lisa fell. “I was watching her shake and kept saying to myself…she’s going to fall…and she did.” Thomas said. “I felt bad for her, but I said to Neil that we’ll see how she handles adversity. I am so happy for the BVI today and for BVI cycling. We came here with a goal to win 3 medals, and we’ve won one. I see what it feels like to win at a championship, and I love the feeling!!!!”

Results

Individual Time Trial

Lisa on the bike enroute to a 5th place finish.

Cadet-Girls (14-16)

1 Olympia Fahie, BVI 22mins 24secs; 2 Pamela Villanueva, Puerto Rico 22:37; 3 Catherine Albarran, Puerto Rico 25:47.

Junior-Girls (17-18)

1 Yolanda Colon, Puerto Rico 20mins 14secs; 2 Daylines Marrero, Puerto Rico 21:51

Cadet-Boys (14-16)

1 Anthony Seppy, Puerto Rico 19mins 18secs; 2 Quinten Winkel, Curacao 20:11; 3 Jason Wilson, Barbados 20:13; 4 Gabriel Garcia, Puerto Rico 20:27; 5 Timothy Fox, Bermuda 21:00; 6 Darel Christopher Jr., BVI 21:11; 7 Deniel Juliana, Curacao 21:34; 8 Aldolfo Gomes, Aruba 21:41; 9 Angelo Farro, Aruba 21:45; 10 Thomas Godfery, Bermuda 22:23; 11 Alex Yearwood, Barbados 22:55.

Junior-Boys (17-18)

1 Eduardo Colon, Puerto Rico 26mins 52secs; 2 Luis Mattei, Puerto Rico 27:26; 3 Jyme Bridges, Antigua 29:06; 4 Timothy Kook, Curacao 30:15; 5 Quincy Jones, Barbados 30:47; 6 Ryuel Arrindel, Curacao 31:11; 7 Shane Weekes, Barbados 31:14; 8 Fidel Mangal, St. Lucia 31:50


Elite Women

1 Maria Rosado, Puerto Rico 40mins 04secs; 2 Joscelyn Trochez, Puerto Rico 41:27; 3 Deanna McMullen, Bermuda 42:54; 4 Kim McMullen, Bermuda 45:48; 5 Lisa Adamson, BVI 46:46; 6 Shariska Dirkz, Aruba 54:54; 7 Ksha Norbert, St. Lucia 1:01;32.

Olympia heading home looking strong.

Caribbean Women's Champion, Marie Rosado with Caribbean Cadet Champion Olympia Fahie.

A very happy BVI delegation with our first gold medlist!!

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation