Marathoners Dominate the Trails: Yang Chunlong and Wang Min Win…

This weekend the 2026 ACG Chongli 168 Super Trail kicked off, and the 50K individual race (53.2 km, 2,466 m elevation gain) started at 6:00 this morning. In previous editions the 50K was contested as a team event, with limited participation from elite athletes and little competitive spotlight. This year the race introduced a Wanlong 50K individual category for the first time, turning the distance into a bona fide stage for short-distance trail competition.

During the race, two athletes who excel on both road and trail delivered surprises.

Yang Chunlong won the Wanlong 50K men's title in 4:24:47.

Wang Min won the Wanlong 50K women's title in 5:19:12.

Marathon runners also put on an impressive display on the trails!

Race highlights

The men's field was stacked, led by Qin Guidu, who held the highest ITRA score in the line-up. He came into the race in strong form after winning the HK100 and finishing second at Australia's UTA by UTMB this year. His expected biggest rival, Shen Jiasheng, opted not to race due to incomplete recovery from injury.

But speed-oriented runners such as Yang Chunlong, Nianzhe Ati, Wu Erqing, and Zi Juwei were also eyeing the title, and their presence made the battle for victory much more intense.

The women's competition grew more interesting with the addition of ACG athlete Takako Takamura from Japan. Regarded as one of Asia's top short-distance trail runners, she was expected to push hard for the top step.

Facing such a strong challenger, whether domestic elites Zheng Bingling, Luo Ping and Yang Yan could use team tactics and home advantage to hold onto podium spots became the main question in the women's race.

After the start

Youngster Zi Juwei started well and gradually took the lead, reaching CP1 in 1:06:29, 1 minute 48 seconds ahead of second-placed Zhao Guohu.

Qin Guidu and Yang Chunlong were tied for third, 1:57 behind Zi Juwei.

On the women's side, Wang Min — the 2023 Chongli 168 70km champion — ran strongly and took the lead, emerging as the chief challenger to Japan's Takako Takamura, who was in second.

By CP1 Wang Min already had nearly a 3.5-minute lead, with Zheng Bingling close behind in third, trailing Takamura.

In the second section between CP1 and CP2 the men's race shifted dramatically. Yang Chunlong steadily increased his pace, overtook Zi Juwei to move into first, while Qin Guidu closed the gap to within 30 seconds and later passed Zi at CP3 to move into second.

Meanwhile Wang Min began to take control of the race, going solo and steadily extending her lead.

After that, competition in both fields settled, and as the kilometres added up Yang Chunlong and Wang Min drew ever closer to claiming Chongli's top spots.

Before the finish line

In the final stage Qin Guidu launched an all-out chase and cut more than two minutes off his deficit to Yang Chunlong, but Yang had already built a big enough lead in earlier sections.

In the end Yang Chunlong crossed the line first in 4:24:47. Although he couldn't hit his pre-race sub-4 goal due to the weather, the victory will no doubt boost his confidence as he transitions into trail racing.

Qin Guidu finished second in 4:28:18, and Japan's Koken Ogasawara took third in 4:30:38.

On the women's side Wang Min had nearly a 20-minute lead at the penultimate timing point and comfortably claimed the women's title, finishing in 5:19:12.

Takako Takamura took second in 5:37:18, and Yang Yan finished third in 5:44:11.

With the conclusion of the 2026 Chongli 168 Wanlong 50K, it's worth wondering whether the strong showings by marathoners Yang Chunlong and Wang Min will attract more marathon runners to the trails.

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Text/Editor: HP

Photos: RUNYEAH

Visuals: Max

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Marathoners Dominate the Trails: Yang Chunlong and Wang Min Win Chongli 168 50km Titles