Race Media

 Miyahara and Yoshizumi Crowned Champions of 

Asian Skyrunning Championships VK race - MSIG Lantau Vertical Kilometre 

 Yoshizumi smashes women’s record by more than two minutes

LANTAU ISLAND, HONG KONG, Friday, December 2, 2016 – Japanese runners dominated the Asian Skyrunning Championships Vertical Kilometre – MSIG Lantau VK race this afternoon, romping to victories in both the men’s and women’s events. Toru Miyahara clocked 38 minutes 17 seconds to be the fastest person overall on the 5-kilometre course that started on Tong Fuk Beach at 3pm and finished on the summit of the 934-metre Lantau Peak, Hong Kong’s second highest mountain.

Miyahara, who beat a world-class field en route to the title, said: “It’s a special race for me. I haven’t been Hong Kong before, and the same kind of course in Japan comprises of continuous up and down, which differs from the straight elevation in MSIG Lantau VK. It’s really an unforgettable experience for me and I will definitely join the race again next time.”

Fellow Japanese Yuri Yoshizumi sailed to a comfortable victory in the women’s event in 45 minutes 59 seconds, smashing the previous course record of 48:32 set by Nepal’s Mira Rai in 2014. Yoshizumi, who was women’s champion in the 2016 Skyrunning Japan Championships, said: “I am so excited to be the first Asian winning the race. With the great number of steps, this course is challenging and demands extreme physical fitness. It’s my first time in Hong Kong and I enjoyed the race a lot.”

Rounding off the podium in the men’s event was second-placed Frenchman Nicolas Martin (Sigvaris Sports Team Trail – Hoka) in 38:51 and Italy’s Emanuele Manzi (La Sportiva – corsainmontagna.it) in third in 39:56.

Martin, second at the recent 2016 IAU Trail Running World Champships and second in the 2016 World Series Skyrunning Ultra, said: “I’m very pleased to run in Hong Kong for the first time. It’s a beautiful city and it’s very difference from my hometown, which consists of only about 500 people. This race was in preparation for Sunday’s 50km, so I am satisfied with the second place.”

Manzi, a seasoned skyscraper runner who was second in the 2016 Swisssotel Vertical Marathon and third at the 2016 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai, said: “I felt quite hot during the race because it’s winter at home for me, where the temperature should be below zero and the ground full of snow. It’s a great pleasure for me to be here since it’s almost like summer here. I really enjoyed the race and am satisfied with third place. You have to keep on pushing your limits along the course, and I’m so glad I finished it.”

Sunmaya Budha (Trail Running Nepal) was second in the women’s race in 48:05. She said: “I love everything about this race.”

French trail running world champion Caroline Chaverot was third in 50:23. “I’m feeling quite happy and I enjoyed the race very much. I tried my best even though VK is not my specialty,” said Chaverot, women’s champion of the 2016 Ultra Trail Mont Blanch and the 2016 Skyrunning World Championships. “I think I started too fast, then I tried to slow down a little bit and it felt better. It’s a really beautiful course and I love the little uphill trail. It’s my first time in Hong Kong and the welcome has been very warm. I have met a lot of people and they have all been so friendly. The food is great and the hotel is nice, so I’m very happy to be here.”

The top three Asia-born runners were awarded championship medals: Miyahara the gold, Hayato Yanagisawa of Japan the silver, and South Korean Byeong Gwon Park the bronze.

The MSIG Lantau VK kicked off the Asian Skyrunning Championships weekend in Hong Kong, which also includes the MSIG Lantau 50 on Sunday, December 4, which consists of a 27km Skyrace (over 2,000m elevation gain) and 50km Ultra SkyMarathon (over 3,400m elevation gain), both starting and finishing in Tung Chung. 

Together, the MSIG Lantau races are part of the MSIG HK50 Series, which includes a leg on Hong Kong Island (October 23, 2016) and will end with a third and final leg in Sai Kung on February 18, 2017.

The event is possible due to the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited and supporting partners ActionX Store, Hoka One One, Herbalgy, OtterBox, C3fit, Oregon Scientific, Bonaqua, Key Sun Zinke, Salonsip, Del Monte, AroundDB, Skyrunner National Series China, China Skyrunning Association, OL&N, Oldham Li & Nie Lawyers, International Trail Running Association Member and Action Asia Foundation.

Race Results

The MSIG Lantau VK

Overall Top 5 Men

Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time

   1. Toru Miyahara-Japan-N/A-00:38:17

    2. Nicolas Martin-France-Sigvaris Sports Team Trail / Hoka-00:38:51

    3. Emanuele Manzi-Italy-La Sportiva - corsainmontagna.it-00:39:56

    4. Eirik Haugsnes-Norway-inov8-00:40:49

    5. Ludovic Pommeret-France-Hoka France-00:42:17

Overall Top 5 Women

Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time

    1. Yuri Yoshizumi -Japan- 00:45:59

    2. Sunmaya Budha-Nepal- Trail Running Nepal- 00:48:05

    3. Caroline Chaverot-Switzerland-Hoka France-00:50:23

    4. Zein Willliams-United Kingdom- Raidlight-00:52:07

    5. Maud Gobert-France- Adidas- 00:53:47

Asian Top 3 Men (Gold - Silver - Bronze)

Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time

      GOLD - Toru Miyahara - Japan -00:38:17

      SILVER - Hayato Yanagisawa - Japan -00: 43:59

      BRONZE - Byeong Gwon Park-South Korea-Adidas-44:46

   

Asian Top 3 Women Gold - Silver - Bronze

Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time

    GOLD -  Yuri Yoshizumi -Japan- 00:45:59

    SILVER - Sunmaya Budha-Nepal- Trail Running Nepal- 00:48:05

    BRONZE - Myungyeo Park - Korea - 0:54:27

 

Overall Top 5 Countries

Country-Score

   1. Japan-306

   2. France-271

   3. South Korea-185

   4. Nepal-136

   5. Italy-118

 Results

https://www.racematix.com/site/#results:rac/AAE-MSIG-Lantau-VK-2016

 Race Info

 

 

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About MSIG

With a network of operations dating as far back as 1855, MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (“MSIG”) has been providing general insurance solutions and products to customers in Hong Kong for more than 150 years.

MSIG is backed by the solid foundation and rich heritage of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, an established insurer that has received strong financial ratings from leading rating agencies, including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Today MSIG is one of the few foreign-based general insurers to have representation in every ASEAN country, a testament to its strength and reach. MSIG also benefits from being a member of MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world.

Leveraging on the multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries and extensive geographical network, MSIG offers a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. MSIG builds and nurtures enduring relationships, forging close partnerships, through good times and bad.

About Skyrunning

Since the first extreme races in 1992, the first World Championship in 1998 and the introduction of the Skyrunner World Series in 2003, Skyrunning has grown to become a globally renowned sport governed by the International Skyrunning Federation. In 2015, the Continental Championships were introduced and includes Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. The sport is practised in more than 40 nations and counts followers from 126 countries.

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