KUALA LUMPUR: After a record of 19 consecutive wins melted away last month, national tower runner Soh Wai Ching reaffirmed his status as the world No 1 when he topped the 'Tunnel to Towers Climb NYC' competition in New York on Sunday.
The 27-year-old from Selayang dominated the competition climbing 2,226 steps and 104 floors of the One World Trade Centre building with a time of 12 minutes and 46 seconds, leaving his nearest challenger more than three minutes behind.
United States' Shari Klarfeld finished second in 15:53 thus winning the overall women's category while another female runner, Maria Elisa Lopez Pimentel of Mexico was third (16:02).
Mexico's Roberto Velazquez Leyva finished second in the men's category in 16:52 while New York local runner Stephen Marsalese was third (17:07).
"Preparations were not ideal leading up to this race but I did what I could and won it.
"Now I have a better understanding of the stairs structure and looking forward to next year's race," said Wai Ching, who lost for the first time since 2019 in Warsaw, Poland last month.
It was Wai Ching's sixth win this year after the M1 Run in Dubai (February 5), Big Climb Dallas (March 26), Big Climb Seattle (March 27), Big Climb Houston (April 2) and Fight for Air Climb San Francisco (April 9).
Wai Ching will continue his quest for glory in the Fight For Air Climb NYC race at Penn 1 Plaza, New York on June 11.