German wins vertical run in HCMC
By Dinh Dung in HCMC
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| A runner finishes the vertical run on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower in downtown HCMC on Sunday - Photo: Dinh Dung |
Thomas Dold of Germany successfully defended his Vertical World Champion title at the Bitexco Vertical Run at HCMC’s tallest building in downtown on Sunday.
Vietnam’s first vertical run challenged runners to conquer a total of 1,002 steps from the Bitexco Financial Tower’s ground floor lobby to the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor, around 178 meters above the ground.
Coming home in four minutes and 51 seconds, Dold, 27, netted US$1,500. This is his fifth victory in the Vertical World Circuit this year.
“This is my first time in Vietnam, and I am very happy to come here and win this great challenge in such a beautiful city,” Dold said, adding he will be delighted to come back for next year’s race.
Italy’s Emanuele Manzi was runner-up on five minutes and 27 seconds, local runner Nguyen Ngoc Quang came third in five minutes 30 seconds.
Italy’s Valentina Belotti won the women’s race in six minutes 19 seconds beating defending world champion Melissa Moon of New Zealand.
Around 500 runners participated including locals, expatriates and tourists.