ESBRU winners Ludvigsen 2nd, Riedl 1st, Wilson 3rd. (c) VWC
February 5, 2015
New York’s Empire State Building Run-Up kicked off the 2015 Vertical World Circuit yesterday, the first of the eight-race circuit’s iconic skyscraper races across the world.
1,576 steps and 86 flights of stairs were the challenge facing more than 400 runners in the 38th edition of the annual event. 2014 VWC champion Suzy Walsham from Australia and German Christian Riedl were the winners here, summiting in 12’30” and 10’16” respectively – leaving the long standing records set by Austrian Andrea Mayr, 11’23” in 2006 and by Australian Paul Crake in 9’33” in 2003 intact.
Last year’s men’s winner, Norwegian Thorbjørn Ludvigsen didn’t match his 2014 winning time – the second fastest ever (10’06”), crossing the line in second position in 10’19”. Another Norwegian, Eirik Haugsnes, was 6th. Interesting to note both athletes, who come from beyond the Arctic Circle, are accomplished skyrunners, racing at high altitude throughout the summer in the wild open spaces of the Skyrunner® World Series.
Thorbjorn Ludvigsen, 2nd in New York. (c) ESBRU
Australian Darren Wilson, winner at the VWC grand finale in Hong Kong in December, placed 3rd in 10’53”. In 4th position: American Sproule Love (11’14”), while Italian Emanuele Manzi took 5th in 11’24”.
In the women’s field, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were all American: Stephanie Hucko (13’50”), Shari Klarfeld (13’55”) and Cindy Harris (14’22”), with 5th going to Italy’s Cristina Bonacina, (2nd on the 2014 VWC ranking).
For Walsham it was her 6th win here. To date, only Germany’s Thomas Dold can boast seven victories in this event.
ESBRU start. (c) ESBRU
Yesterday’s race kicks off the 2015 Vertical World Circuit featuring eight races zig-zagging across the globe from New York to London, from Taipei to Paris, from Beijing to Brazil, before returning to the Far East in Shanghai and closing with the grand finale in December in Hong Kong. An exhibition race in Hanoi, Vietnam, is also on the calendar.
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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Empire State Building Run-Up provisional results:
Men
1. Christian Riedl (GER) – 10’16”
2. Thorbjørn Ludvigsen (NOR) – 10’19”
3. Darren Wilson (AUS) – 10’53”
4. Sproule Love (USA) – 11’14”
5. Emanuele Manzi (ITA) – 11’24”
6. Eirik Haugsnes (NOR) – 11’38”
Women
1. Suzy Walsham (AUS) – 12’30”
2. Stephanie Hucko (USA) – 13’50”
3. Shari Klarfeld (USA) – 13’55”
4. Cindy Harris (USA) – 14’22”
5. Cristina Bonacina (ITA) – 15’03”
6. Veronica Stocker (CAN) – 15’25”