Filipina Sandi Menchi Catlona Abahan and several other world class trail runners will compete in the 2016 edition of the Asian Skyrunning Championships starting today at the island of Lantau in Hong Kong.
Abahan, who ruled the female division of the 29th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon recently, and other participants will trek the MSIG Lantau VK (vertical kilometer) and the MSIG Lantau 50, which includes a 27km SkyRace and a 50km Ultra SkyMarathon.
Posing more challenges are the 934m Lantau Peak and the 898m Sunset Peak, second and third highest respectively in Lantau Island.
The MSIG Lantau VK will start at Tong Fuk Beach as the course climbs 950m over 5km to finish on Lantau Peak. On Sunday, both the 27km Skyrace (over 2,000m elevation gain) and the 50km Ultra SkyMarathon (over 3,400m elevation gain) will be held concurrently – starting and ending at Tung Chung.
Abahan will compete in the 27K race on Sunday.
Hong Kong is hosting the event for the second straight year and MSIG’s Chief Executive Officer Kenneth J. Reid is thrilled.
“MSIG is honored to host the Asian Skyrunning Championships,” said Reid. “Hong Kong is an excellent stage for international trail running events as it has beautiful landscape, trails, scenery, not to mention first-class facilities provided to meet the needs of international runners.”
“Being the title sponsor of the 2016 Asian Skyrunning Championships, it is an honor for MSIG to partner with Action Asia Events to bring a unique running experience for HK runners.”