Triathlete Sika Henry recalls ancestors and "The Hill We Climb" moment at Run Richmond 1619 press event

Sika Henry, introduced at the press conference as "the 1st black woman to become a professional triathlete," spoke about her experience running Run Richmond 1619 and what the course means in a historical context.

"My name is Sika Henry, and I'm the 1st black woman to become a professional triathlete," she said, describing long races and the personal perspective they provide. Henry recalled a steep hill on East Main Street where an audio passage of Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" played and helped sustain her as she ran. She also connected her competitive experience to the larger history she said the race commemorates, citing family history of exclusion from professional sports as context for why the event matters to her.

Henry thanked event organizers and her sponsor (named in the transcript as "Goo"/"Goof") for supporting the event and encouraged attendees to participate.