Vernon athlete in top three at Race Across America

A Vernon ultra-athlete is in the hunt for another title at what is referred to as “the world’s toughest bicycle race.”

Leah Goldstein is among the top three riders in the Race Across America (RAAM) which spans 4,800 kilometers, and is into its eighth day as of Wednesday, June 21.

Goldstein started the gruelling journey in Oceanside, California on June 13, and her finish line will be in Annapolis, Maryland in the next couple days.

Leah Goldstein (submitted photo/Facebook)

Goldstein, 54, has competed in the RAAM at least three times before including in 2021 when she won the overall solo division, the first time in the race’s 39-year history that a woman won the overall title. She completed the trek in 11 days, three hours and three minutes.

Goldstein’s Facebook page says Leah is averaging 300 miles a day on just over three hours of sleep. As of 2 p.m. Pacific time June 21, she trailed only Isa Pulver, a woman from Switzerland and Lionel Poggio, a man from Switzerland.

“Goldstein put in a powerful performance in the past 24 hours,” an update on RAAM’s Facebook said on Tuesday, June 20. “Since yesterday morning she’s passed under 50 male soloist Yusuke Ochiai -Randonneur Plus Project (Japan), and under 50 female soloist Heather Poskevich (USA), the top-placed American rider at the moment.”

To follow Leah’s progress, visit RAAM’s 2023 Live Tracker.