Piotr Lobodzinski winner and record holder. (c)Sporting Republic
China’s capital city Beijing hosted for the third time round a race up the city’s tallest skyscraper: 82 floors and 2,041 steps at the China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run with a new men’s record.
The 6th leg of the Vertical World Circuit took place on September 19 with 800 runners from 20 countries competing. The winners were Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland and Australia’s Suzy Walsham, the 2014 VWC Champions.
For Lobodzinski it was a new course record, 9’53”, two seconds faster than the previous record held by German Thomas Dold. Walsham, who won the race for the third consecutive time, crossed the finish line in 11’52”. She retains the record set in 2013 of 11’46”.
Beijing winners Lobodzinski and Walsham. (c)Sporting Republic
Second man at the summit was Australia’s Mark Bourne in 10’07” and China’s Ma Zhengtong in 11’08”, third.
It was no easy feat for Lobodzinski however. “It was a really tough race for me because Mark (Bourne) was behind me until the 50th or 60th floor, but then the gap between us became bigger and bigger. I was really exhausted at the finish line, which means that means I gave my 100% today. It’s really nice race and nice weather; I can see all of Beijing.”
In the women’s field, China’s Xue Gan and Fan Feng Juan, placed second and third respectively in 12’32” and 13’07”.
Winner Suzy Walsham commented, “I’m thrilled to win this for the third time. It’s my fourth win on the circuit this year, so it really cements this year for me and I really hope to be back again next year. It’s a great building, a tough tower, and it’s great to be challenged.”
Sino-Ocean Land, developer of The CBD’s Private Palace, is the title sponsor of the 2015 China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run.
All charitable proceeds raised from the China World Summit Wing Vertical Run will benefit the China Charities Aid Foundation for Children.
“We are pleased to be bringing the Vertical World Circuit back to Beijing and look forward to continuing to be a part of the circuit next year and into the future,” said David Shin, race director and International Skyrunning Federation representative.
The China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run is the sixth race in the eight-race circuit which stretches across the world from America to the heart of Europe, Oceania and Asia. The VWC world champion titles are based on the score of four out of eight races, with 20% extra points awarded at the final.
Gan Xue, 2nd lady, Beijing. (c) Sporting Republic
After New York, London, Taipei, Paris and Sydney, the Vertical World Circuit will continue in Asia, heading for Shanghai on October 25 and the grand finale in Hong Kong on December 6 at the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity: Race to Hong Kong ICC where the World Champions will be crowned and awarded the VWC final 100,000 HKD prize.
Race results
Men
1. Piotr Lobodzinski (POL): 09’53”
2. Mark Bourne (AUS): 10’07”
3. Ma Zhengtong (CHN): 11’08”
4. Ou Jia Jing (CHN): 11’14”
5. Guo Xiang Long (CHN): 12’37”
Women
1. Suzy Walsham (AUS): 11’52”
2. Gan Xue (CHN): 12’32”
3. Fan Feng Juan (CHN): 13’07”
4. Cristina Bonacina (ITA): 14’34”
5. Cindy Reid (AUS): 15’03”
Cristina Bonacina, 4th lady. (c) Sporting Republic
Vertical World Circuit Ranking (extract)
Men
1. Piotr Lobodzinski (POL)
2. David Robles Tapia (ESP)
3. Norbert Lechner (AUT)
4. Mark Bourne (AUS)
5. Emanuele Manzi (ITA)
Women
1. Suzy Walsham (AUS)
2. Cristina Bonacina (ITA)
3. Cindy Reid (AUS)
4. Lenka Svabikova (CZE)
5. Elodie Bernascon (FRA)
Vertical World Circuit ranking
Official Event Website: www.chinaverticalrun.com
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