Defending champions return to New York for 39th Empire State Building Run-Up

NEW YORK, NY – Empire State Realty Trust, Inc announced today that defending champions Suzy Walsham and Christian Riedl will return to New York for the Empire State Building Run-Up Presented by Marmot on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.

By competing in the 39 th annual Run-Up, Walsham, 42, of Singapore , and Riedl, 35, of Germany , look to defend their 2015 crowns. The event, which consists of racers from all skill levels, includes leaders in the sport of professional tower running, who will compete in the men’s and women’s elite division.

Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances:

• Suzy Walsham, 42, of Singapore, won consecutive races in 2014 and 2015 and will headline this year’s elite field. Following her sixth victory last year with a time of 12:30, she continues to hold the record for most wins by a female.

• Christian Riedl, 35, of Germany, took his first victory in the Empire State Building Run-Up Presented by Marmot last year, winning the race in 10:16.

• Cindy Harris, 47, of Indianapolis, Ind., placed fourth in last year’s race with a time of 14:22. She is a four-time winner of the event.

• Darren Wilson, 41, of Australia, placed third in the men’s invitational race last year with a time of 10:53 after taking second place in 2014.

Quotes from Defending Champions:

Suzy Walsham

“The combination of a challenging climb, in a famous building, against a strong international field makes the Empire State Building Run-Up one of the world’s great stair races. I strived for many years to achieve my six wins and I am excited to return to New York to try to add to this tally.”

Christian Riedl

“The Empire State Building Run-Up has always been a special race to me since it is the most famous tower run in the world. On the one hand, I feel a bit more relaxed this year because last year I could fulfill my dream of winning this race. On the other hand, the expectations are growing, and I know that defending a title can be much harder than winning a title once.”

About the Empire State Building

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the “World’s Most Famous Building.” With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions as the region’s #1 tourist destination.