Suzy Walsham and Piotr Lobodzinski, Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run. ©Sporting Republic
Piotr Lobodzinski of Poland and Suzy Walsham of Australia won the inaugural Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run in the Philippines today.
Sanctioned by the International Skyrunning Federation, the event was selected as Official Race of the 2016 Vertical World Circuit (VWC), the world’s premier skyscraper racing circuit, uniting some of the world’s most iconic tower races.
Lobodzinski, 31, from Warsaw, Poland, won the race in 6’20”, 22 seconds ahead of Mark Bourne of Australia. Third place went to Ignacio Cardona from Spain in 7’12”. He now moves up to lead the rankings, followed by Lobodzinski.
Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run start
“I was really happy with my time,” Lobodzinski said. “I was expecting to run under seven minutes, so running closer to six minutes is a real surprise. I’m in good shape right now and hope to keep this form until the end of the year.”
In the women’s contest, reigning Vertical World Circuit champion Suzy Walsham, won in a time of 7 ’39” . Second place went to fellow-Australian, Alice McNamara, in a time of 8′ 21″. McNamara is a world class rower and won gold at the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich. Cristina Bonacina of Italy came third in a time of 9’24”. She now leads the ranking after her third place here today.
“I am really thrilled to be here in Manila,” said Walsham. “It was really great to win the first race and I am pretty happy with my performance. The last 10-15 floors were really tough. Trying to stay motivated is really hard,” she added. “A really great building – a great, great race.”
A happy finisher with a view at the Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run
Guest-of-Honour, Jorgo Bocobo, representative of Taguig City, was in attendance to witness the start of the elite races.
Athletes ran in groups of between 12 to 15 runners, going off from the hotel’s lobby in 3 minute intervals. Over 500 runners registered finished the race, according to Sporting Republic, the event management agency which organises the event.
Race Results
Men
1. Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) 6:20
2. Mark Bourne (AUS) 6:44
3. Ignacio Cardona (ESP) 7:12
Women
1. Suzy Walsham (AUS) 7:39
2. Alice McNamara (AUS) 8:21
3. Cristina Bonacina (ITA) 9:24
VWC Ranking
Men
- Ignacio Cardona (ESP) – 332 points
- Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) – 300 points
- Emanuele Manzie (ITA) – 256 points
Women
- Cristina Bonacina (ITA) – 316 points
- Lenka Svabikova (CZE) – 278 points
- Suzanne Walsham (AUS) – 200 points
Vertical World Circuit rankings
Official Event Website: www.manilverticalrun.com
Official video