In the men’s Elite category, Vertical World Circuit (VWC) champion Thomas Dold of Germany came first after running up a total 1,002 steps to a height of 178m of Bitexco Financial Tower, the highest building in Ho Chi Minh City, with 4’ 51”.

Emanuele Manzi of Italy was named the first runner-up with 5’27’’ and the only Vietnamese male athlete, Nguyen Quang Ngoc, became the second runner up with 5’30”.

In the women’s Elite category, Italian Valentine Belotti finished first with 6’19”, outstripping her first runner-up, VWC champion Melissa Moon of New Zealand, by 15 seconds. The third place went to Bridget Robertson of New Zealand with 6’59”.

The organising board presented prizes to male and female runners in age groups of under 19, 20-29, 30-39, over 40, over 50, and university students challenge.

As a trial competition for the VWC 2011, the Bitexco Vertical Run 2011 attracted more than 500 Vietnamese and foreign runners.