2014 Taipei Run-Up winners Mark Bourne of Australia & Italy’s Valentina Belotti with David Shin
Reigning Vertical World Circuit champion Mark Bourne of Australia scaled the 2,046 steps of the world’s fifth tallest building to win the tenth edition of the Taipei 101 Run Up in Taiwan, Sunday. Repeating last year’s win, Italy’s Valentina Belotti took the women’s title.
Winning the event is Bourne’s first outright victory on this year’s eight-race Vertical World Circuit, earning him 100 points on the men’s ranking and putting him side-by-side with Norway’s Thorbjorn Ludvigsen, who won the first leg of the Series in New York’s Empire State Building Run-Up in February. The 30-year old Australian finished in a time of 10 minutes and 54 seconds.
“It was very hard as usual, but I’m happy with it. I ran a similar time to last year so I can’t complain with that,” Bourne said. “There are some interesting races on [the Vertical World Circuit] this year so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully gaining some more points.” he added.
Winning his third straight race in Taipei, the Australian raised his arms as he crossed the finish line and then collapsed on the floor with exhaustion.
Piotr Lobodzinski of Poland placed second, 4 seconds behind Bourne, clocking 10 minutes and 58 seconds. Christian Riedl from Germany came third in 11 minutes and 11 seconds.
In the female division, Valentina Belotti climbed to victory, finishing in 13 minutes 32 seconds, 17 seconds ahead of Australia’s Alice McNamara. Antonella Confortola, also from Italy, came third in 13 minutes and 42 seconds.
“I am very happy to win here in Taipei today because I have been training hard for this race.” said Belotti. “It is one of the most iconic races in the world and winning it gives me a special feeling.”
Each winner received a prize purse of 200,000 New Taiwan dollars.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Taipei 101 Run Up hosted more than 5,000 participants from 39 countries.
Look out for the next leg of the Vertical World Circuit on May 16 in Paris with the VertiGo where the world’s top runners will battle for points for the 2014 Vertical World Circuit champion title.
Race Results:
Men
1st: Mark Boune – Australia: 10 minutes 54 seconds
2nd: Piotr Lobodzinski – Poland: 10 minutes 58 seconds
3rd: Christian Riedl – Germany: 11 minutes 11 seconds
Women
1st: Valentina Belotti – Italy: 13 minutes 22 seconds
2nd: Alice McNamara – Australia: 13 minutes 39 seconds
3rd: Antonella Confortola – Italy: 13 minutes 42 seconds