1st South American Youth Games – Lima, Peru...

1st South American Youth Games – Lima, Peru…

Sep 24, 2013 Sports

Three boxers lose semi-final bouts, cyclists called out of Mountain Bike CC race
By Franklin Wilson in Peru
Joel Williamson (56kg), Michael April (49kg) and Tefon Greene who campaigned in the 64kg category all lost their semifinal bouts on day three of the inaugural South American Youth Games (1SAYG) here in Peru.

Tefon Greene (right) lands a solid left punch on the button against A. Zarraga of Venezuela.

Stepano Husbands and Alonzo Ambrose tried their best in the Mountain Bike Cross Country race on what has been described by many as a track for elite riders, their best was not enough though and they were called out of the event after two (2) and (1) lap respectively.
Based on the usual rules of boxing, once you reach the semifinals, you are assured of bronze medals but that will be confirmed in a subsequent story. The other boxer on the Guyana team, Travis Fraser drew a bye to the final in the 69kg class and will be in action tomorrow.
April had won his first fight against W. Choque of Bolivia with Williamson and Greene drawing bye’s to the semis.
Williamson, a South Paw fighter, lost his bid to make the finals as they decided that his opponent, C. Borden of Argentina was the winner of their 56kg battle. The Guyanese looked good in the opening stanza, using his jab to good effect whilst moving to the left of his opponent.
But like his two other colleagues, as the contest matured, their condition was tested and they did not pass with flying colours.
Greene, give up the decision to Venezuela’s A. Zarraga in their 64kg contest. Both pugilists were not afraid to exchange punches as they used the ring to good effect seeking to gain the advantage.
Greene looked good in the first two rounds of the three round bout, but faded in the critical third round which made the difference on the judges’ score cards at the end of the fight.
April, who lost to I. Fernandez of Ecuador, looked good early in the piece but as the bout progressed, he got slow in letting his fists fly while Fernandez was quicker in the exchanges.

Michael April (left) is tagged coming forward against I. Fernandez of Ecuador

Coach, Wincel Thomas commenting on the three loses said that the decisions against Greene and Williamson were a bit harsh. He said he felt that they had done enough to progress but was nonetheless happy with the way they handled themselves giving the challenge of fighting in a much different climate.
“The coldness was always going to be a major factor here but I think we have done the best we could have in the circumstances. These guys are a talented bunch and as long as they continue to get consistent exposure I am sure they will do us proud as a nation.”
Up at the cycling, one race official said that the decision which also saw riders from Columbia (John Rodriguez), Uruguay (Anthony Castro & Juan Garcia), Paraguay (Eduardo Meza) and Argentina’s Eugene Dirksz all being withdrawn; was due to the fact that these riders were more than 80% behind the eventual winner, Columbia’s Brandon Rivera.
Rivera covered the very challenging and mountainous course four times clocking 48 Minutes 12 Seconds. Chile’s Pedro Burns (50:05) and Nicholas Delich (52:38) took the second and third places.
A number of riders fell during the course of the race on another cold and breezy day. Along certain parts of the course which was steep, many riders struggled to conquer it on their wheels; they had to revert to pushing their machines up to the top then continue.
Some fell along the way, including Ambrose, but picked themselves up

Brandon Rivera of Argentina, winner of the male Mountain Bike race

and continued. Husbands and Ambrose related their experiences which were good despite not being familiar with a course of this nature. Many of the other riders also spoke of the challenging nature of the track, eighteen riders competed.
The female riders traversed the course twice, and of the 15 starters, three (3) were withdrawn while an equal amount did not finish.
Crossing the finish line in triumph was Fiorella Bosch of Argentina in 31 Minutes. Jessika Riascos of Columbia was second three minutes behind the winner with Ana Paula Casetta of Brazil next in 34 Minutes 14 Seconds.
Cycling Coach William Howard said he was satisfied with the determination and grit shown by his athletes despite this being their first experience.
“You know, it would have been nice to be up there in the top bracket like the others but we are not at all exposed to this kind of riding so the experience was great for these guys. They have made lots of friends and who knows where this exposure can lead them in the future.
They have fell in love with the track and will be back to train on it for a few more days.”