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UTMB 2019: Hongkonger Wong Ho-chung finishes in top 10 by running ‘the perfect race’
- The Hong Kong trail runner of the year mixes with the best in the world and takes sixth place
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Hong Kong runner Wong Ho-chung finished in the top 10 at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in an incredible performance of patience and pacing. It is the highest finish for a Hongkonger ever at the 171km UTMB. The 2019 Hong Kong trail runner of the year was 107th around the 10km mark, but at each checkpoint he moved up the rankings.
The UTMB is one of the premier ultra trail races of the calendar. The field is packed with the best runners in the world. This year was won by Pau Capell of Spain, who finished in 20 hours, 19 minutes and seven seconds.
By 100km, Wong had worked his way up to 11th. Wong continued to push. With just 20km to go, Wong, who is a firefighter, was in a battle for sixth place with a number of athletes including Ecuador runner Joaquin Lopez. There was only seconds between them.
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When they reached the finish, Wong and Lopez acknowledged there was nothing to split them by crossing the line together in joint sixth place.
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Wong runs for The North Face Adventure Team and is the top ranked Hongkonger on the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) points system.
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