World-class stair racer Thomas Dold broke the 20-year-old Swissôtel Vertical Marathon record of 6 mins 55 secs by 3 seconds, with his winning time of 6 mins 52 secs at the Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2008.

Women's Open champion Suzanne Walsham will also be heading to New York with her winning time of 8 mins 20 secs at the race, improving on her 2007 race time by a whopping 12 seconds.

Congratulations to both Mr Thomas Dold (Men's Open Winner) and Ms Suzanne Elizabeth Walsham (Women's Open Winner), who will get the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Empire State Building Run-Up 2009, which accepts participants based on invitation only.