Empire State Building Run-Up Presented by Turkish Airlines Powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation

Defending Champion Suzy Walsham Returns to New York After Last Year's Record-Breaking Victory

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building today announced that elite tower runner Suzy Walsham of Singapore will return to the World's Most Famous Building on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, for the Empire State Building Run-Up Presented by Turkish Airlines Powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation, to defend her title as the most decorated athlete in this race's history.

Walsham earned her fifth-straight and record-breaking eighth overall victory in the 2017 Empire State Building Run-Up women's invitational heat with a time of 12 minutes, 11 seconds. The 41^st annual race will pit Walsham against U.S.-based rivals Cindy Harris – currently the No. 2-ranked female tower runner in the world behind Walsham – Meg Santana and Stephanie Hucko.

Among the leading contenders in the men's invitational heat are Frank Nicolas Carreño of Columbia –ranked 2^nd in the world, Alex Workman – the top-ranked male tower runner in the United States and Sproule Love – the 14^th ranked tower runner in the United States.

"As the world's first and most recognized tower race, the Empire State Building provides competitors a unique challenge," said Walsham. "To compete against the world's best athletes at this iconic location is an honor and privilege each year, and I look forward to defending my title again in 2018."

Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier and the airline that flies to more countries and international destinations than any other airline, is the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Run-Up. And as part of the prize package, the top three male and female winners of this year's race will each be awarded a business class flight voucher to the Turkish Airlines destination of their choice. Turkish Airlines' New York office is located in the Empire State Building, with its global headquarters based in Istanbul.

"Taking pride in its wide flight network that spans over 300 passenger and freight destinations in 120 countries, Turkish Airlines is glad to be the presenting sponsor of this exciting event that brings together communities from all around the world through running, while also raising important awareness for the Challenged Athletes Foundation," says Cenk Öcal, Turkish Airlines' General Manager, New York. "Turkish Airlines continues to fulfill its commitment to global sports events and organizations that reflect its dynamism and competitive spirit in every aspect."