Suzy Walsham and Piotr Lobodzinski, winners at T2T Tower Climb, New York. ©VWC
Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland scaled the 2,226 steps and 104 flights of New York’s One World Trade Center at the T2T Tower Climb on Sunday, June 3rd in a new record time of 12’05”. It is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and sixth tallest in the world.
Australian Suzy Walsham was unable to beat her own record set here last year but closed in 13’50” – an incredible fifth overall in a field of close on 1,000 participants.
The race represented the third stage of the nine-race 2018 Vertical World Circuit after Seoul and Paris and carried an extra 25% bonus points to those competing on the circuit. A $2,000 cash prize awarded by the VWC was presented to the two winners.
“I’m very happy with the race today – it’s the second win for me on VWC 2018. I broke the record! It was 12’19” for Thomas Dold and Darren Wilson last year and now it’s 12’05. Quite often in the stair cases the handrails are a little low for me so If I come back next year I think I can improve on it!” commented Lobodzinski. “It’s a very nice beginning for a Sunday. It’s 6 am so there’s a long day ahead. The next VWC race for me will be in Manila in July,” he concluded.
Piotr Lobodzinski, new record holder on One World Trade Center, New York- ©VWC
Second fastest man was Italian Emanuele Manzi who closed in 12’41” and third, Spaniard Ignacio Cardona Torres in 13’04”.
Six-time VWC World Champion, Walsham stated, “I was super happy with today’s race. I was carrying a bit of an injury coming in so to be only to be six seconds slower so I’m really happy. It’s a very emotional race. Walking around the days before the race, looking at the memorial and looking at the building, it’s a privilege to be a part of it,” commented Walsham.
“I thought I’d gone out conservatively but around the 50th/60th floor the last 40 floors were a bit of a struggle but I tried to focus on my form and the process so I was really happy I did a sub-14 minutes.”
Suzy Walsham, an incredible fifth overall in the T2T Tower Climb, third stage of the 2018 VWC. ©VWC
Completing the women’s podium was Australian Brooke Logan, second in 15’43” and American Shari Klarfeld, third, in 16’05”.
Omar Bekkali from Belgium placed fourth in the race but continues to lead the Vertical World Circuit ranking after scoring points in all three races. In the women’s ranking Suzy Walsham now takes over the lead from Italian Cristina Bonacina who finished sixth.
From across the world, twelve Vertical World Circuit elites from Australia, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Philippines, Poland and Spain took part in the fourth edition of the race commemorating 9/11 and organised by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. One World Observatory at One World Trade Center marks the finish line on the 102nd floor of the building that symbolizes strength and hope and the resiliency and invincibility of the American spirit, once again celebrated in this iconic race.
One World Trade Center, New York, site of the T2T, third leg of the VWC. ©VWC
The Vertical World Circuit now heads for Manila, Philippines on July 8 with the Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run with EastWest Bank where some of the world’s top runners will converge for the fourth stage of the circuit.
T2T Tower Climb results
Men
- Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) – 12’05”
- Emanuele Manzi (ITA) – 12’41”
- Ignacio Cardona Torres (ESP) – 13’04”
- Omar Bekkali (BEL) – 13’48”
- Alexander Workman (USA) – 14’15”
Women
- Suzy Walsham (AUS) – 13’50”
- Brooke Logan (AUS) – 15’43”
- Shari Klarfeld (USA) – 16’05”
- Stephanie Hucko (USA) – 16’23”
- Rosalyn Russell (PHI) – 17’31”
2018 Vertical World Circuit Ranking
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