Sports

Island runner Jesus "Levi" Contreras, known as "The Flash of Belize," returned home with another first-place medal after winning the Run for the Coast competition held in Belize City on Saturday, October 26th. Contreras completed the 2.75-mile run with an impressive time of 14 minutes and 21 seconds. Other participants from the island included Marissa Guerrero and her son, Ethan.

On Tuesday, October 15th, the Belize Men’s National Football Team, the Jaguars, delivered an impressive performance, securing a 3-0 victory over Turks and Caicos in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League. This win allowed the Jaguars to top Group B of League C, finishing with 12 points. This victory guarantees them a spot in League B for the next competition season, a significant achievement that will see them compete against stronger teams in the region.

Over the weekend, the Ambergris Stadium hosted the third week of the Island Football League and the Inter-Office tournament, featuring a series of action-packed games. The leading teams maintained their positions in the top three as both tournaments proceeded to another set of matches this coming weekend.

On Sunday, October 13th, island runner Jesus ‘Levi’ Contreras (The Flash of Belize) participated in a 10-mile off-road race in Independence Village in the southern Stann Creek District. Contreras, who ran under team Splash Elite Runner, gave his all and crossed the finish line, claiming second place.

On Saturday, October 5th, four students from the island embarked on a journey to El Salvador to represent the island at the 21st Council for Sports and Recreation of Central America (CODICADER) Games. The participating athletes included Brandon Quijano and Izabel Usher, who represented San Pedro High School in track and field events. Aysha Acosta and Tamilli McCauley also joined the King's College Basketball team in this year's CODICADER competition.

The Island Football League (IFL) and the Inter-Officer Football Tournament have returned, with fierce competition among several teams vying for this year’s championships. The first week of matches, filled with thrilling moments, kicked off from September 27th through the 29th at the Ambergris Stadium.

The San Pedro Volleyball Association completed its second week of games for the 2024 Indoor Volleyball tournament at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium on Sunday, September 29th. The event lasted from 4:30PM to 8:30PM and drew an enthusiastic audience ready to support their favorite team. Each match showcased the talent and abilities of the participating teams, providing intense and high-energy volleyball action. The victorious teams for the second week of games included San Pedro High School (SPHS) JRS, Isla Bonita Girls, Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) Boys, Isla Bonita Boys, SPHS Sharks, Wild Sets, and Team Vikings, all of whom demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and determination throughout their matches.

On Sunday, September 29th, the San Pedro Pirates fought hard until the end of their home-away game against Team Verdes but could not find the back of the net and had to settle for a 2-0 defeat. The island team is now regrouping and planning the way forward as they continue competing in the Opening Season of the Premier League of Belize (PLB).