Friday, February 8, 2013

Up, up and away: Racers climb NYC's Empire State

FILE- In this Feb. 8, 2012 file photo, six-time champion Thomas Dold (1), of Germany, leads the men's elite field at the start of the 35th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up, at the Empire State Building in New York. Contestants from around the world will compete in the event on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

FILE- In this Feb. 8, 2012 file photo, six-time champion Thomas Dold (1), of Germany, leads the men's elite field at the start of the 35th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up, at the Empire State Building in New York. Contestants from around the world will compete in the event on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

(AP) ? It was a double win for Australians at the annual Empire State Building Run-up.

Australian Mark Bourne raced up the 86 flights of stairs Wednesday night in 10 minutes, 12 seconds. It's his first win.

Fellow Aussie Suzy Walsham won the women's division in 12 minutes, 5 seconds. It's the fourth time she's won the race.

Runners from around the world took part in the vertical dash up a total of 1,576 steps, starting at the lobby and finishing at the observation deck.

More than 600 people were registered for the event, including some world-class elite athletes. Seven-time champion Thomas Dold of Germany did not run this year.

Other contestants came from countries including Belgium, Japan and Papua New Guinea.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

It's a race to the top ? well, to the 86th floor, anyway.

People from around the world are taking part in a vertical race ? up 86 flights of stairs at the Empire State Building. That's a total of 1,576 steps, starting at the lobby and finishing at the observation deck.

The annual Empire State Building Run-up is being held Wednesday night.

More than 600 people are registered for the event, including some world-class elite athletes. Seven-time champion Thomas Dold of Germany is going for his eighth victory in a row. Among the women, four-time winner Cindy Harris of the United States will be taking part, as well three-time winner Suzy Walsham of Australia.

The run-up used to be held during the day before being switched to evening hours last year to allow more participation. The event is put on by the New York Road Runners, which also puts on the annual New York City Marathon.

Like the marathon, start times are staggered. The elite men and woman start before the general field, and participants in the general field are released one at a time several seconds apart to avoid crowding.

The Empire State Building race is among the more high-profile tower climbs in the world. Participants are coming from around the United States, as well as countries including Belgium, Japan and Papua New Guinea.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-06-US-Empire-State-Building-Run-Up/id-82828943be584b6cb82a33a05f24c7a5

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