Hong Kong trail running’s return continues apace with Action Asia HK50 West, as Masashi Shirotake and Angelika Hahn take 55km titles
- Full quota of 300 runners revel in race’s return to full action after more than 2 years of cancellations and limitations
- Japan’s Shirotake triumphs in 5 hours, 46 minutes and 53 seconds, with Germany’s Hahn finishing in 7:11.19 in sweltering conditions
The Action Asia HK50 West made a triumphant return after more than two years of limitations and cancellations, with Japan’s Masashi Shirotake and Angelika Hahn of Germany taking the men’s and women’s titles respectively.
A full quota of 300 runners competed over distances of 55 kilometres, 25km, and 11km on Sunday, starting and finishing at Shing Mun reservoir in sweltering conditions.
The longest course took runners over Hong Kong’s tallest mountain – the 917-metre Tai Mo Shan – before descending to the Tai Lam Chung reservoir. Runners then climbed halfway back up Tai Mo Shan, before heading back to Shing Mun, for a total elevation gain of 2,572m.
Some of the Covid-19 restrictions which have rocked the city’s sporting landscape, including trail running, were still in effect, with competitors required to return a negative PCR test within 48 hours of the event.
Three vaccination shots were also needed to enter the race, with face masks required at the start and finish area, while groups began in waves five minutes apart.