The world's best tower climbers gathered at New York's iconic Empire State Building on Wednesday (February 5) evening to participate in its annual run-up race.<br/> <br />The competition first started in 1978 was held for the 37th time and had participants climb 1,576 steps from the ground floor to the observatory of the 86th floor.<br/> <br />The women's individual race started at 2000 EST (0100 GMT) sharp while the men started four minutes later.<br/> <br />Eleven minutes and 57 seconds later, it was defending champion Australian Suzy Walsham who crossed the finish line first.<br/> <br />Walsham has won four times in the past --in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013-- and set a new record for the race by winning it for the fifth time.<br/> <br />In the men's competition, 25-year-old Thorbjorn Ludvigsen came in first with a finishing time of 10 minutes and six seconds.<br/> <br />In total 430 stair-climbing athletes from 15 different countries participated in the race.
