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12 Nov, 2016

Chiu Wen-hsiao makes history - MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50

Chiu Wen-hsiao makes history as first Taiwanese overall champion of
MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50

TAOYUAN CITY, TAIWAN, November 12, 2016 – A year of hard work paid off for Taiwanese trail runner Chiu Wen-hsiao when he romped to a dominant victory at the MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 this morning. Chiu won the 50-kilometre event, Taiwan’s most challenging trail race, in 6 hours 24 minutes and 49 seconds – the first Taiwanese overall victory in the history of the race.

Chiu finished nearly an hour ahead of his nearest rival and more than 90 minutes faster than his timing in last year’s race, where he was fourth. His winning time was also faster than Pierre-andre Ferriere’s winning time in 2015 (6:51:38) on the course that starts at the picturesque tourist spot Shihmen Reservoir, winds through the forest of the Shihmen Mountain area before looping back to the finish at the reservoir parking lot.

Chiu, who has taken part in the race every year since it began in 2014, said he did not think too much when running and simply wanted is to improve his time and conquer himself. Overall, he said he really enjoyed the race and the scenery. “I loved the ridgeline of Baishi Mountain, where I could see the full skyline of Taoyuan city. It was wonderful,” he said.

All top five men in the 50km race were from Taiwan. Yung Sheng-chen of the Hoka One One Taiwan team was second (7:18:35) and third was Tang Weifu (7:23:38), who was returning from injury.

Another Taiwanese took the top spot in the women’s 50km. Chang Keiko won in 8:22:18, a significant improvement from last year where she abandoned the race before checkpoint four. “I didn’t expect this result. I just wanted to try my best to finish the race,” she said. “I think the most difficult part of the course is between checkpoints three and four, which rises in elevation quite quickly. The part I like most is from the start to checkpoint one, where I saw the sunrise and the full view of Shihmen Reservoir.”

Two other Taiwanese rounded off the women’s podium: Yin-hsia Lin was second (9:08:02) and Stella Chen third (10:22:22).

The MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 has a technical and demanding route that has earned the event the prestigious honour of being the country’s first officially recognised International Skyrunning Federation race. Though the highest point of the course is only 591 metres elevation, runners tackle many small steep hills for a total of 3,016m elevation gain and 3,049m elevation loss. Elite runners worldwide have been drawn to this challenge, including Australia’s Vlad Ixel and Kiwi Ruth Croft.

The event also offered shorter race distances of 21km and 13km. Taiwan’s Chen Hsiu-ching from Wild Kids grabbed the 21km women’s champion title in 2:37:37. “The view of the course in Shihmen is so beautiful and it was apity that I didn’t have my phone on hand to record it,” she said.

Wu Yu-chia won the men’s 21km in 2:03:24 in his first time running at Shihmen Reservoir. “My favorite part was the top of Shihmen hill, where I could see the full scenery. It was stunning,” said Wu, who has his sights on the 50km distance in future.

The first champion crowned among all races today was Tang Hao of the Taichung Wild Kids team. He won the 13km in 1:33:37. “The scenery along the whole course with such great diversity is so amazing. I enjoyed the bamboo trail the most,” said Tang.

Another first-timer to Shihmen, Lin Chuan of Taiwan, won the women’s 13km (2:05:13). “The most challenging part of the race was the gravel on the downhills. Although they were slippery and needed great caution in descending them, I enjoyed myself very much,” she said.

The event was possible with the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG and the supporting partners ActionX Store, HOKA ONE ONE, OtterBox, Maxpure, TXG, Outside Magazine, Chaiin Hotel, Taipei Metro Hash House Harriers, China Hash House Harriers, Don 1 don, UTMB Qualifying Race 2016, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Eva Air, and Action Asia Foundation.

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Race results

50km Top 5 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor – Time

1. Wen Hsiao Chiu (邱文孝) – Taiwan – CTT Compressport Team – 6:24:49

2. Yung Sheng Chen (陳永勝) – Taiwan – Hoka One One Taiwan– 7:18:35

3. Teng Wei Fu (鄧維富) – Taiwan– 7:23:38

4. Yi Lin Chung (鍾易霖) – Taiwan Goat – 7:41:02

5. Chin Tsung Li (李進聰) – Taiwan – 8:21:18

50km Top 5 Women

1. Keiko Chang – Taiwan - 8:22:18

2. Yin-hsia Lin (林吟霞) – Taiwan - 9:08:02