Hillcrest duathlon bags another victory
Joshua Steytler was honoured with a magnificent trophy made of sand, sculpted in the shape of a castle after winning the Red Bull One-mile Quicksand Challenge.
SHORTLY after winning the South African U23 Duathlon Champs, Joshua Steytler kept his winning streak, claiming victory in the Red Bull One-mile Quicksand Challenge.
“It’s been a good holiday break,” says the Stellenbosch third-year student.
On the day of the race, the weather conditions on race morning were ideal – around 24 degrees Celsius with gentle 5km/h winds, providing the perfect set-up for an enjoyable event.
On that morning, Steytler ran a challenging 15km progression along the promenade.
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“I started at a pace of 00:04:20 per km and gradually accelerated, finishing at a pace of 00:03:20 per km. I entered the race after witnessing the event in action during my training session. The sheer enjoyment and enthusiasm displayed by the competitors inspired me to be a part of it.
The race format involved two laps of an 800m course, with four dunes to conquer during each lap. The event was comprised of 12 heats of 20 people each, with the 50 fastest participants from all heats progressing to the semi-finals. The semi-finalists were then divided into two heats based on their odd and even positions, and the top 10 competitors from each semi-final advanced to the finals.
Each heat was spaced 10 minutes apart, with the first heat commencing at 08:00.
He won my heat with a determination to set the fastest time of the day, which I successfully accomplished, finishing with a time of 00:06:57.
“This was an impressive 30 seconds faster than the next competitor in all the heats. The effort was challenging but invigorating, and I felt confident and energised for the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Steytler’s strategy was to conserve energy for the final while securing a spot in the top 10.
“I took the first lap hard, and only one other competitor managed to keep up. For the second lap, I eased off a bit, securing the second position in the semi-finals and feeling well-rested for the ultimate showdown.
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“The final was a thrilling race with 20 determined individuals competing for victory, creating an intense and electrifying atmosphere,” he said.
During the final, the 20-year-old found himself in fourth place after the first lap, struggling to keep up with the leaders.
“However, I relied on my endurance and mental fortitude, making my move about 300m from the finish. I surged ahead, creating a gap that I maintained all the way to the end, securing a triumphant win,” said the proud Steytler.
The main sponsors of the event were Red Bull, Dunlop Tires and Salomon.
As the champion, he was honoured with a magnificent trophy made of sand, sculpted in the shape of a castle. Additionally, he received a cheque of R5 000 and a R3 000 Salomon voucher, allowing him to select premium Salomon products of his choice.
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