SHKP completes 7th vertical run, records over 1,900 participants

Sun Hung Kai Properties' (SHKP) annual event vertical running race has completed yesterday, drawing more than 1,900 participants and including a record high of 75 student relay teams.Titled "‘SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Hong Kong ICC’", the event aims to raise awareness of a healthy lifestyle among the Hong Kong public, as well as promoting a charitable spirit. More than 1,900 runners joined this year’s races, aged 10 to 75 and coming from 38 countries and regions, including runners with visual or hearing impairment and autistic runners.Over 100 elite vertical runners competed in the Vertical World Circuit 2018 from May onwards at nine iconic skyscrapers around the globe, culminating at the grand finale at SHKP’s International Commerce Centre (ICC). At the competition, Polish runner Piotr Lobodzinski was crowned championship at the men’s elite category, who reached the finish line at sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck in 12 minutes.In the women’s elite category, Australian runner Suzy Walsham came first with a time of 14 minutes 5 seconds. They also became overall champion of the Vertical World Circuit from the men’s and women’s respectively.Over 840 runners enrolled in individual races, in which Eric Yeung Hoi-chun took home the title of championship in the male’s category at 14 minutes 3 seconds, while Le Qing-hua was crowned championship in the female’s category with a time of 17 minutes 25 seconds. SHKP will sponsor both of them in the coming Vertical World Circuit 2019 to encourage international exchange.This years vertical running race has attracted more 75 student relay teams, including 57 teams competing in the secondary students category.  Raimondi College came first at 13 minutes 51 seconds, while BokChunMF won in the tertiary category with a time of 14 minutes 33 seconds."We want to continue to promote the popularity of vertical running among young people, developing this sport and the spirit of giving at an early age. Apart from today’s event, we have organised a series of lead-in community activities to engage the general public in our ‘sports for charity’ effort that would benefit children and youth groups in Hong Kong," Christopher Kwok, executive director of SHKP, concluded.