TAIPEI, TAIWAN -- (Marketwire) -- 06/12/12 -- The popular "2012 Standard Chartered - TAIPEI 101 Run Up" officially kicked off at 8 am on June 10, and as it also happens to be the 101st year of the R.O.C., the event attracted an unprecedented level of enthusiasm. When registration opened at 4 pm on May 10, the Self-Challenge Individuals and Corporate Group Racers categories all filled up right away! The challenge offered by 2,046 steps has continued to draw more and more enthusiastic people to take part!

Strong International Participation and Australian Mark Bourne Won at His First Participation!

A new winner was born in the Men's Division. Mark Bourne from Australia, who had just won 3rd place in the 2012 Empire State Building Run-Up, yielded brilliant results at his first participation in the 2012 Standard Chartered - TAIPEI 101 Run Up, winning his first championship with a personal record time of 11 minutes and 26 seconds. Thomas Dold, who was the winner last year, finished second, just four seconds behind (11 minutes and 30 seconds) Mark Bourne. In the award ceremony, Thomas Dold couldn't help but say: "Just four seconds behind!" and found it a pity to lose when it was so close. Concerning the Women's Division, Valentina Belotti from Italy won for the second year in a row, clocking in at 13 minutes and 21 seconds. Melissa Moon from New Zealand finished second with a personal record time of 14 minutes and 24 seconds, 1 minute and 3 seconds behind Valentina Belotti.

Xiao-Wei Zhai, a one-legged dancer from mainland China, participated in the TAIPEI 101 Run Up this year for the first time. Though having only one leg, he still used sheer determination and endurance to finish all the steps in 40 minutes and 35 seconds. When he arrived at the finish line with Harace Lin in the Charity Relay Group, the crowd broke out into thunderous applause! Harace Lin, Chairman of TAIPEI 101, said "Even now, the TAIPEI 101 Run Up still has an irreplaceable status among other international competitions. It is the tallest and biggest challenge in the world. We are glad to see this Run Up has increased Taiwan's visibility over the past 8 years."

Rankings of 2012 Standard Chartered - TAIPEI 101 Run Up:

Men's Division
1. Mark Bourne (Australia) 11'26" 3rd place in 2012 Empire State Building Run-Up, first participation in TAIPEI 101 Run Up
2. Thomas Dold (Germany) 11'30" Winner of 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
3. Clement Dumont (France) 12'33" 5th place in 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
4. Fu-Cai Chen (Taiwan) 12'51" 6th place in 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
5. Jesse Berg (USA) 12'53" Winner of 2012 Empire State Building Run-Up, first participation in TAIPEI 101 Run Up

Women's Division
1. Valentina Belotti (Italy) 13'21" Winner of 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
2. Melissa Moon (New Zealand) 14'24" 4th place in 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
3. Frey Kristin (USA) 14'32" 5th place in 2012 Empire State Building Run-Up, first participation in TAIPEI 101 Run Up
4. Hsiao-Yu Li (Taiwan) 14'49" 9th place in 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up
5. Ching-Hui Shih(Taiwan) 16'46" 10th place in 2011 TAIPEI 101 Run Up

About TAIPEI 101

TAIPEI 101 is a landmark in Taipei City's Xinyi District in Taiwan (Republic of China). It was the world's tallest building between 2004 and 2010. In July 2011, the tower was awarded LEED Platinum certification while it also became the tallest and largest green building in the world.

For more information, please visit www.taipei-101.com.tw

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