HK100: five men and women to watch as the Ultra-Trail World Tour comes to Hong Kong

The Ultra-Trail World Tour (UTWT) starts on January 18 with the Vibram Hong Kong 100 (HK100).

The famous 100km race is one of just two UTWT races in Asia, the other being the Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji, so the start line is packed with some of the best runners in the world.

The field is not as deep this year, probably because of the civil unrest in Hong Kong, but there are still plenty of top runners. In the last few years, it has become a stamping ground for mainland Chinese runners to showcase their talent to the rest of the runner world. Here are five men and women to keep your eye on this year.

Men

Jared Hazen

There are fewer big names drawn from the US and Europe this year, but that does not mean the race is without star power. American Hazen, 25, is part of the famous Coconino Cowboys running group that includes the likes of Western States record holder Jim Walmsley. Hazen came second in the Western States last year in the second fastest time ever.

He took first place in the Lake Sonoma 50 (80km) and the JFK 50 (80km) in 2019. Hazen did not complete his most recent race, the Leadville Trail 100 mile (161km) race. But his tactic seemed to be the record or bust, going all out from the start. It did not pay off this time.

Wong Ho-chung