Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100: Chinese runner Wu Yongbo vows ‘no regrets’ in title defence
Also competing in the ‘Grand Sam’, three daunting trail races over same number of days, is a 12-strong team from Mexico
Wu Yongbo has pledged to finish this year’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 “Grand Sam” with no regrets, as the durable mainland China athlete prepares to defend the title he won 12 months ago.
The “Grand Sam”, which was launched in 2023, is contested by athletes who compete in all three daunting trail races over the three-day event. It was christened in honour of Sam Tam, the first runner to sign up for the three-race option. It also sounds like saam, the Cantonese word for three.
Wu will begin his quest to retain the blue-riband crown when the Third, covering 31 kilometres and an elevation of 1,395m, begins at 8am on Thursday. The Half, spanning 50km and 2,118m of climbing, will be staged at the same time on Friday, with the showcase Hong Kong 100, contested over 93km and 5,028m elevation, topping the bill from 7am on Saturday.
“I’ve prepared everything,” said Wu, who won in a combined 20 hours, 30 minutes and 16 seconds last year. “I hope to perform at my training level and have no regrets.”
The 16th edition of the HK100 has attracted more than 3,000 runners from 60 countries.
Maria Lorena Ramírez, the subject of a 2019 Netflix documentary titled Lorena, Light-Footed Woman, is leading the 12-strong team Mexico Imparable – translated as Unstoppable Mexico – which represents the Raramuri, Maya, Mixteca and Otomi communities, across the four events (the three individual races and the combined one). The 31-year-old made her Hong Kong 100 debut last year.