As we wrap up the first half of April 2026, Sports Monday host Paul Lopez brings audiences a comprehensive breakdown of the most exciting action from Belize’s busy weekend of youth and elite amateur sports across three different disciplines. The weekend’s marquee event was the 25th edition of the BEL Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic, which kicked off Sunday morning with 30 up-and-coming male riders departing the Succotz Ferry in western Belize for a grueling cross-country route ending 47 miles away in Belize City. The competitive field included five international riders, hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, and the Cayman Islands, adding an extra layer of regional competition to the domestic event.
Early in the race, Keith Enwright Jr. of Team G Flow and Stephan Pelayo of Team Misfits broke away from the main peloton to build an early lead, but the pair were eventually reeled back in by the chasing pack. It was G Flow’s Amaad Cherington who made the race-defining move around the 35-mile mark, launching an aggressive attack that opened a three-minute gap over the field and saw him ride solo for more than 12 miles. Cherington’s solo break held until just 12 miles from the finish line, when a four-rider chase group caught him, setting up a five-man sprint for the overall title along Belize City’s final stretch.
Cherington set a blistering pace into the final straight, but it was Enwright who found an extra gear coming from behind, surging past the entire leading group to take an unexpected first-place finish. Cayman Islands rider Ryan Thompson crossed second, while Griga Cycling’s Jamaal Tablada rounded out the top three podium. Speaking to reporters after the win, an shocked Enwright said he never expected to take the top spot, having planned to set his teammate Cherington up for the victory as a lead-out man. “I’m not a sprinter,” Enwright explained. “When I saw Amaad start to fade and the Cayman rider coming for the line, I just kept pushing and ended up out front. I still can’t believe it happened.”
The women’s junior cross country race followed a similar route starting in Roaring Creek rather than the western ferry crossing, and 17-year-old Irani Baki delivered a dominant back-to-back title defense. Baki rode solo from start to finish, a repeat of her 2025 winning performance, crossing the line well clear of the chasing pack to claim the crown. The young rider, who competed in the elite women’s cross country event just two weeks prior, said she was hoping for a tighter race to push her, but was pleased to secure her second consecutive junior title. Baki is now set to travel to Paris for a specialized training block as she continues to develop her cycling career.
From the cycling course, the weekend’s action shifted to football pitches across Belize, with matches held in both the Belize District First Division and the youth-focused Future Football League. In the First Division matchup between Tutbay Football Club and Ceasar Ridge FC, Tutbay got off to a blistering start, scoring inside the first minute of play when Kevaughn Tablada capitalized on defensive chaos in the box to put his side up early. Ten minutes later, Leon Jones extended Tutbay’s lead with a perfectly placed header off a corner kick. Though Ceasar Ridge managed a late consolation goal, Tutbay held on to secure a 2-1 victory. Over in the Future Football League, Future FC claimed two wins on the weekend: they beat Ladyville 2-1 in their first matchup, followed by a dominant 4-0 shutout in a second fixture between the two sides.
The final set of weekend action came from the National Elite Basketball League, which hosted three games across two days. On Friday night at the Belize City Civic Center, the Belize City Defenders faced off against the Dangriga Dream Ballers. The first half remained tightly contested, with the two sides trading baskets through the first two quarters, but the Defenders exploded in the third quarter to build an unassailable lead. The Dream Ballers had no answer for the Defenders’ offensive push, and the game ended in a lopsided 90-50 win for the home side.
Saturday brought a two-game slate of basketball action. In the first matchup hosted in Belize City, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks faced the Orange Walk Running Rebels in one of the weekend’s closest contests. The game remained tight through the final buzzer, with the Tiger Sharks edging out the Rebels by just two points, 81-79, to add another win to their 2026 season record. In the evening game in San Ignacio, the Cayo Western Ballaz hosted the Corozal Spartans, pulling away in the second half to secure a 98-82 victory. This recap marks the end of this week’s Sports Monday broadcast; coverage of all upcoming Belizean sports action will return next week. This report is a transcribed version of a televised evening newscast.