Victorious Yun Yanqiao misses Vibram HK100 record by two minutes
The 2013 winner completes the course in nine hours, 34 minutes while women’s winner Nuria Picas smashes old mark by 30 minutes
China’s Yun Yanqiao won the Vibram Hong Kong 100 in nine hours and 34 minutes, missing out on Francois d’Haene’s course record by just two minutes.
In cool conditions with patches of rain and air quality that was perfect, a leading group of 13 runners quickly formed and cruised together for 28km before Italy’s Daniel Jung made a break coming into Hoi Ha village at the 35km mark.
Jung maintained his lead through the halfway checkpoint at Kei Ling Ha, but Yun, who won the race in 2013 and was fifth in 2012, used his course knowledge to sustain an attack over Beacon Hill and open up a gap which Jung and the chasing back could not close.
Yun’ s winning margin was 26 minutes from Jung (10 hours, one minute). American runner Sage Canaday claimed the third place on the podium in 10 hours, three minutes.
Yanqiao said the first part of the course was slippery, but he found a rhythm and enjoyed the run. Jung, who confessed to only two hours sleep on Friday night because of jet-lag, said he loved the course for its variety with beaches, hills and city views, and that he can’t wait to explore Hong Kong further in the next few days.