Shanda Hill, the only female competitor in the Deca South Africa, is leading the race after completing the 38 km swim in 16 hours. She is currently 181 km into her 1,800 km bike ride, holding a 60-km lead over her closest competitor despite facing numerous challenges.
Shanda Hill, an ultra-athlete from Vernon, is currently in the lead for the Deca South Africa competition. Uniquely, she is the only female competitor in this challenging event. The Deca entails a staggering 38 kilometers of swimming, followed by an 1,800-kilometer bike ride, and finally, a 422-kilometer run, all to be completed within a 14-day timeframe.
As of now, Shanda leads among 11 male athletes, having completed the swimming segment in an impressive 16 hours and 24 minutes—1 hour and 27 minutes ahead of her nearest rival. In a recent social media update, she expressed, “I told you I could do this! I wanted to make everyone proud.”
Shanda is currently tackling the bike portion of the race, which presents its challenges due to an elevation gain of 12,643 meters along the cycling route. This elevation translates to her cycling the equivalent of almost one and a half times the height of Mount Everest over the course of 254 laps.
During her ride, she confronts extreme heat conditions, cycling in temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius. Moreover, Shanda reported a neck strain sustained during her swim and is concerned about a potentially broken toe. As of 7 p.m. South Africa time, she has successfully completed the 38-kilometer swim and is 181 kilometers into her bike ride, maintaining a 60-kilometer lead over her closest competitor.
Shanda Hill, a remarkable athlete representing Vernon, is leading the Deca South Africa, an arduous challenge consisting of extensive swimming, cycling, and running. She has demonstrated exceptional performance, outpacing her male competitors significantly. Despite facing physical challenges and intense weather conditions, she continues to display resilience and determination. As she progresses in the race, updates are ongoing and highlighting her impressive achievements.
Original Source: www.castanet.net
