VertiGO! winners Manzi and Svabikova
More than 1,000 runners raced to the summit of France’s tallest building in the fourth leg of the 2016 Vertical World Circuit, May 20. The VertiGo with 954 steps and 48 floors of vertical climb takes place in the Tour First skyscraper in the business district of the Paris.
The winning time was 5’02” for Italian Emanuele Manzi and in the women’s field victory went to Lenka Svabikova from the Czech Republic in 6’06”. The standing records set by Piotr Lobodzinski of 4’43” in 2015 and Suzy Walsham in 5’43” remain.
Lenka, who bettered her 2015 time by four seconds, said, “ I was really happy to win. I wanted to run below 6 minutes but the mass start made it difficult. After the 12th floor I was alone. At the finish line I wasn’t exhausted, so I think I could have pushed harder.”
The 2016 Vertical World Circuit sees an elite field of runners from across the world competing in the nine-race circuit. Second man was Igancio Cardona from Spain in 5’23” and Hoi Chun Eric Yeung from China was third in 5’31”.
In the women’s field Italian Cristina Bonacina finished second in 6h51”, Emmanuelle Blanck from France took third in 7’01” and Australian Cynthia Reid closed in fourth in 7’29”.
VWC elite runners at the Paris VertiGO!
Leading the current ranking after the fourth stage are Emanuele Manzi and Lenka Svabikova who took part in the London, Dubai and Paris events.
Five of the nine Vertical World Circuit races count for the final ranking. After Paris, the circuit will head for Manila, Sydney, Beijing and Shanghai, to conclude with the Grand Finale in Hong Kong at the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity: Race to Hong Kong ICC on December 4 where the World Champions will be crowned and awarded cash prizes.
VertiGo race results (extract)
Men
1. Emanuele Manzi (ITA) – 5’02”
2. Ignacio Cardona (ESP) – 5’23”
3. Hoi Chun Yun Eric Yeung (CHN) – 5’31”
Women
1. Lenka Svabikova (CZE) – 6’06”
2. Cristina Bonacina (ITA)- 6’51”
3. Emmanuelle Blanck (FRA) – 7’01”
2016 Vertical World Circuit Ranking leaders
Men
1. Emanuele Manzi (ITA) – 256 points
2. Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) – 200 points
3. Ignacio Cardona (ESP) – 166 points
4. Mark Sims (GBR) – 144 points
5. Norbert Lechner (AUT) – 124 points
Women
1. Lenka Svabikova (CZE) – 278 points
2. Cristina Bonacina (ITA) – 238 points
3. Suzanne Walsham (AUS) – 100
4. Stephanie Hucko (USA) – 100 points
5. Ashley Scott Wilson (GBR) – 88 points
Tour First tower, site of the VertiGO!
The VertiGo race, now in its 4th year, is organised by PL4Y International (formerly Sport Without Borders). Altogether 1,054 runners took part in the race.
About PL4Y International
The money raised will help PL4Y International to develop its programmes across the globe. Since 1999, the NGO has used sports as powerful leverage for social change and has showed that innovation through sports favours social cohesion.
About VertiGo
Tower: Tour First
Elevation: 225m
Race floors: 48
Steps: 954
Race records: Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) 4’43”. Suzy Walsham (AUS) 5’43”
High altitude, whether in the mountains or the city, is the arena of the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), which governs, promotes and sanctions skyrunning (high altitude mountain running) and skyscraper racing worldwide.
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