KUALA LUMPUR — In a breathtaking display of endurance and determination, Soh Wai Ching secured his status as the reigning champion of the Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU) for the third consecutive year.
In a statement today, the Malaysia Tower-Running Association said that the Selayang-born athlete, became the first person to conquer the 1,576 stairs three times in a row, clinching the championship with an awe-inspiring time of 10m 36s.
Wai Ching’s Japanese contender Ryoji Watanabe came in second after crossing the finish line just 16 seconds later, clocking in at 10m 52s, while Italy’s Fabio Ruga took third place after finishing the race with a time of 11m 14s.
The tournament was not short of excitement in the women’s elite category either, as Malaysian Jennifer Chan delivered a remarkable performance, clocking in at 19m 34s.
For Jennifer, it was only her third international tower running competition, having made her debut in the UK’s tallest stair climb at the 62-storey 22 Bishopsgate Tower in 2022.
Wai Ching is also the first Asian runner to win the ESBRU for two (2021, 2022) consecutive years in a row.
In 2020, he set the Guinness World Record for the Greatest Vertical Height Stair Climbing in One Hour (Male).
Wai Ching received a special Award at the 2022 National Sports Awards in July.
ESBR, the world’s first and most famous tower race, challenges runners from near and far to race up its famed 86 flights — 1,576 stairs. — October 6, 2023