The Empire State Building Run-Up is just a few days away. Here’s a rundown of the men on the start list for the 44th edition of the event.
Wai Ching Soh (Malaysia)
The reigning champ is back to defend the title he won last year with a 10:46 finish. He’s spent the last week warming up with wins at the US Bank Tower in LA and the Space Needle in Seattle, while the earlier part of the year has also been full of victories and new course records at events in Europe, Asia and the USA. Far and away the most active tower runner in this line up, so anything other than a faster win than last year will be a big upset.
Ryoji Watanabe (Japan)
Third in the Vertical World Circuit in 2019, Watanabe is making his debut at the ESBRU. Throughout the VWC he showed himself capable of getting reasonably close to two former ESBRU champions Piotr Lobodzinski and Mark Bourne, so should give a good account of himself.
The last time Soh and Watanabe squared off in the same event was at the 3,398-step Shanghai Tower International Vertical Marathon in November 2019. The Malaysian finished 28 seconds – and one position – ahead of Watanabe in that event to take fifth. Both men have made significant improvements since then, with Watanabe chalking up numerous wins in Japan this year. This really is the clash of the night. Watanabe is well fired up, telling Soh in an Instagram exchange earlier in the week, ‘I’ve been waiting for the day to fight you again!’. Here’s hoping for a close race.
Fabio Ruga (Italy)
The Italian won the European Tower Running Championship in Poland earlier this year and will be making his fourth ESBRU appearance (if he makes it to the start line – TBC). Ruga’s best time at the Empire State Building is the 11:18 that earned him third in 2019, when he was just four seconds behind Wai Ching Soh. He’ll almost certainly need a sub 11-minute finish to win. Although constantly racing in the mountains, Ruga hasn’t had many outings in 1,000+ step buildings lately and that stairwell rust is probably going to have an impact. Hope to see him back on the podium but top spot might be a stretch.
Sproule Love (USA)
One of the all-time great American stair climbers, Love made his debut at the ESBRU all the way back in 1999. He’s been on the podium in New York a number of times over the years, most recently finishing third in 2018. His times at the ESBRU have varied quite a lot recently, ranging from a blistering 11.15 in 2016 to a 12.35 last year that was good enough to earn him fourth.
If he can bring back that sub 12-minute form this year, we might see an American on the podium again. But keeping up with the top visiting international athletes all the way to the 86th floor will be a tall order for The Ghost. Chance of a top five finish again for Love this year we reckon, but he’ll have to be on top of his game to ensure he holds off enough of the European challengers.
Görge Heimann (Germany)
Heimann made his one and only ESBRU appearance back in 2016, where he clocked a very respectable 12:20 to finish sixth. He won the German Tower Running Cup this year so is evidently in good shape. Imagine he’ll be hoping to finish around the lower 12-minute mark again this time and fingers crossed he manages it and it’s enough for another top-six finish.
Omar Bekkali (Belgium)
The Belgian policeman has raced three times at the ESBRU and has a PB of 11:53, which earned him second place in 2018 behind Frank Nicolas Carreno. He was a bit slower in 2019 (fifth in 12:12) and then couldn’t make the 2020 race. Highly active in years gone by, but has been largely absent from the scene this year. Not had his attendance confirmed, but if he does race it will be a case of wait and see what sort of shape he’s in once the race is over. Would be good to see some Euro athletes in the top five, so we’ll have fingers crossed Bekkali comes in fit.
David Roeske (USA)
Roeske has made six ESBRU appearances, debuting in 2015. His time each year has hovered around the 12 and a half minute mark, although last year he clocked a slightly slower 12:44 to take fifth. If everyone on the start list turns up, that sort of time probably won’t be fast enough to earn fifth again.
Best of the rest
Troy Alston – a spread of wins in the US saw Alston surge to third in the world rankings earlier this year. Highly accomplished at sprint and long-distance climbs, he’ll be looking to make an impact on his second ESBRU appearance. He clocked 13:03 on his debut back in 2016.
Josh Duncan – the 2018 USA Stair Climbing Champion is well familiar with the 1,576 steps of the Empire State Building. He ran 13.31 at the 2019 event but an understandably slower 14:21 last year.
Mark Ewell – another successful American tower runner, with a good 13.26 PB at the ESBRU.
Mark Henderson – finished in an impressive 12.52 in 2019 and will surely be happy to chop any time off that this year.
Cole Hetzel – he’ll be the youngest man in the lobby of the Empire State Building but definitely one to watch. He debuted at the ESBRU last year after bagging a lottery entry and finished in 14:37. He subsequently went on to win Bop to Top in Indianapolis in January and then came second (third overall, with Wai Ching Soh winning the race) at the USA Stairclimbing Champs at Scale the Strat, Las Vegas a few weeks later. He’ll be looking to clock something much faster than last year’s time.
Josh Jackett – making his long overdue ESBRU debut this year, Jackett is the man behind the excellent Stair Life, the leading website for all things stair climbing related in the USA. A handy tower runner himself, he’s had a win and podium finish this year. No idea how he’ll fair in NYC, but hoping he has a great race.
Jason Larson – a strong athlete with tons of stair racing experience and wins around the States. Has dipped under the 13 minute mark a couple of times at the ESBRU and will be looking for more of the same tonight.
Stephen Marsalese – The Beast from the East made his ESBRU debut way back in 1996 and has clocked up 25 appearances in total. He’ll be looking to chop some time off the 14:40 he posted last year and get his finishing time back down closer to 14:00. He’ll no doubt be bolstered by the win he secured at the Corning Tower in Albany, NY last month.
Martin Pederson – the Danish athlete had to skip the Elite race last year due to travel restrictions. This year his Elite invite was pulled but he’s bagged a place in the Open. If he doesn’t get bumped up to the Elite wave, hopefully he’ll get a clear run in the Open. He clocked 13:11 in his debut in 2019, but admits to not being as good shape this year so will probably be very happy with a sub 14-minute finish.
Tower Running UK 