Troy Alston is one of the world’s top-ranked stair                                                                                       climbers and a leading ambassador of the
                                                                                   fast-growing sport of Towerrunning (aka                                                                                                     Competitve Stair Climbing). Based in Tampa,                                                                                             Florida, Troy is known for his explosive power,                                                                                           unmatched endurance, and relentless drive to                                                                                           conquer some of the shortest and tallest buildings                                                                                     on the planet—one step at a time.
 

                                                                                   Originally a track athlete specializing in the 
                                                                                   400-meter hurdles, Troy discovered stair 
                                                                                   climbing as a cross-training method. What 
                                                                                   started as a new training method and a 
                                                                                   challenge quickly became a passion, and he has                                                                                      since transformed himself into one of the sport’s                                                                                        elite competitors. His breakout performance came                                                                                      at the 2010 Ft. Lauderdale Fight For Air Climb,                                                                                          where he won the climb and set a new course                                                                                            record. From there, his career soared.
 

Born To Climb

In 2016 he shattered a 32-year-old course record at Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Canada, previously held by the late Olympic cyclist Gordon Singleton. As a result of achieving such a feat, Alston was presented with the Key to the City by Niagara Falls, Canada Mayor Jim Diodati. Winning the climb in Canada also made him the first American / American male to win an international event. Troy has competed in stair climbing events across North America and internationally bringing his climb total to 145 (as of 2 November 2025). Over the span of those 145 climbs he has climbed a total of 129,754 steps, 4,882 floors which comes out to 21,792.16 meters or 71,496.51 feet. That translates to a total of 13.54 vertical miles (21.79 kilometers), the length of a half marathon, the distance between the Golden Gate Bridge to Oakland Bay Bridge, or climbing double the Troposphere Limit (Earth’s Atmosphere) where commercial airliners fly. Over that length of time I’ve set over 50 course records that span 16 states, 34 cities, and 2 countries. 

Most notably, he is also the first internationally ranked African American stair climber, climbing to number 2 in the world (2020-2021 Intermediate Ranking), paving the way for greater visibility and inclusion in the sport. In addition to podium finishes and course
records, Troy is also known for his dedication to raising
awareness for lung health through his participation in the
American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climbs. As of the
31 May 2025 he has climbed in a total of 80 Fight for Air Stair
Climbs. Over the past 14 years he has successfully climbed
thousands of steps to help raise awareness and support for
critical research aimed at combating respiratory diseases and
finding cures for some of the world’s most devastating illnesses.
 
His passion for fitness, community, and inspiring others led
him to create the StairClimbElite brand. He uses the brand
as a platform to share his journey, training tips, and insights
to help athletes of all levels reach new heights—literally and
figuratively. In addition, he also developed his own line of
StairClimbElite apparel. 
 

Life Before the Climb

Troy Alston attended Warner University, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. 
During his collegiate career, he competed in Cross Country / Track and Field, specializing in the
400-meter hurdles and relay events and had a rather stellar college career.
 

Warner University
Former School Record Holder (400 meter hurdles)

Former Conference Record Holder (400 meter hurdles)

3× All-Conference Sun Conference Champion 

2007 – 400m Hurdles Champion, 4×400m Relay

2008 – 400m Hurdles Champion

2009 – 400m Hurdles Champion, 4×800m Relay

2010 - Academic All-Conference

Westside Highschool (N.B. Forrest Highschool)
2005 Gateway Conference Champion (300 meter hurdles)
2 x District Champion (300 meter hurdles) 
2005 Bob Hayes Invite Runner Up (300 meter hurdles)
2005 Chandra Cheeseborough Runner Up (300 meter hurdles)

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Whether he’s racing up skyscrapers or coaching others through
their first climb, Troy Alston continues to elevate the sport and
redefine what’s possible, one step, one stairwell at a time.