Stair racing makes Wuxi debut at IFS

A lively throng of bright orange T-shirts gathers at the square in front of Wuxi IFS on May 14, ready to race up the city's tallest skyscraper. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuxi's tallest building played host to a peculiar and grueling sporting event on May 14 when 400 energetic souls scrambled up the 339 meter tall building in a race called 2017 International Tower Running Grand Prix.

Top athletes from the 2017 International Tower Running Grand Prix Wuxi take a photo together on the podium. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The winners, though anyone capable of completing the lung-busting feat should be considered champions, were Zeng Wenbo (men's competition) who reached the top of the building in 7 minutes and 41 seconds and Gao Meng (women's competition) who finished in 9 minutes and 32 seconds. The best time for group relay was 7 minutes and 3 seconds.