German runner Thomas Dold wins fifth straight Empire State Building run

New York, Feb 3 (ANI): German runner Thomas Dold has won the fifth straight Empire State Building run.

Dold, 25, the defending champion, outran over 300 fellow racers up 86 flights of stairs in ten minutes and 16 seconds to retain the title.

"It's unbelievable. I pushed as hard as possible and ran as fast as my legs could carry me," the New York Daily New quoted Dold, as saying.

He added: "I'm coming back next year for the world record."

Paul Crake had set the world record of 9 minutes and 33 seconds in 2003.

Women's winner Melissa Moon, 40, said: "It's different from other stairwells. It's frantic. I was a little concerned how I would handle the frenzy."

The Kiwi runner, who finished the 33rd annual competition in 13 minutes and 13 seconds, added: "It's all about how your body tolerates pain."

The event attracted competitors aged 18 to 72 years. (ANI)