Incredible Jo Leads Tortuous Race

11 MAR2010

Dumfries RC’s Joasia Zakrzewski has continued to shine in the heat of the Chilean desert as she overcame initial setbacks to build on her early lead.

In Stage 2 of the arduous Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2010, Scotland’s Joasia Zakrzewski maintained her early lead in the women’s race, moving up one place overall to finish in sixth position. The second stage of the desert race saw competitors making their way through icy cold slow canyons, sand dunes and salt flats. The temperatures were around 35 degrees Celsius with almost no wind as Jo completed the stage in a time of 6:0016. South African Erica Terblanche was the second woman and 15th overall. Diana Hogan-Murphy of Ireland finished third woman.

After a well deserved sleep competitors faced the very difficult Stage 3 which took them through salt flats, slate rocks and rolling sand dunes. This stage has been described as “absolutely torturous.” Temperatures were high and competitors were struggling but Jo Zakrzewski again captured first in the women’s race in an incredible time of 6:45:04