Running: New Records in Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k
RunnersWeb, Canada Dec 22 2006
22 December 2006 – Sixteen competitors from Armenia, Australia,
France, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, and
the USA took part in the second Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k races.
The events, which were held on 13th and 15th December, respectively,
are only official footraces within the Antarctic Circle and take
place in 24-hour daylight at 80 Degrees South latitude.
Clear skies, temperatures of -10C and light winds initially greeted
participants in the marathon event (26.2-miles), although low cloud
cover in the latter stages of the race led to poor contrast and
visibility.
A group of six top mountaineers, including four Everest summiteers
from the seven summits club, were late registrants for the event.
Their inclusion in the field added further excitement to the race
particularly when the best marathoner among them, Karo Ovasapyan of
Armenia, was still in contention for third place after 25km.
By this point, however, Henri Alain d’Andria (FRA) had carved out a
sizeable lead over Tim Harris (GBR). The Frenchman continued to push
ahead to win in a new Antarctic Ice Marathon record of 5.08.17 hrs,
beating Eveginy Gorkov’s (Russia) existing record by over a minute.
In finishing second, Tim Harris successfully completed seven
marathons in seven weeks on seven continents and will undoubtedly
enter Guinness World Records for the shortest cumulative marathon
time for the task.
Noelle Sheridan (USA) was the sole female participant and finished in
a time of 7:15:46 to set a new Guinness World Record for women by
running seven marathons in seven months on seven continents.
Two of the mountaineers finished the marathon event while the others
decided at different points to withdraw rather than putting an
imminent Mount Vinson summit attempt in jeopardy due to blistering or
other running-related injuries. Nevertheless, a record of other sorts
was probably set for the greatest concentration of Everest summiteers
in one marathon.
In the 100km race, held on 15th December, Richard Donovan (IRL) led
the event from start to finish. Although d’Andria (FRA) was in close
proximity over the first 25km, the gap widened at the halfway point
as the relentless pace continued in brilliant sunshine. Easing up
over the final quarter, the Irishman set a new Antarctic 100k record
of 12:55:06 – a race distance that is equivalent of 10% of the
distance to the South Pole.
Both overall winners of the Marathon and 100k received $5,000 Kobold
expedition watches for their efforts in the snow, while all
particpants received Salomon running gear and other prizes.
The next Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k trip takes place from 10th –
18th December 2007. Entries for a limit of 20 places will open in
late January 2007 and the price for the expedition trip will be
similar to this year at US $15,000. See the website –
– for further details.
MEN’S MARATHON
1. Henri Alain d’Andria (FRA) – 5.08.17 hrs
2. Tim Harris (GBR) – 5.15.28 hrs
3. Philippe Moreau (FRA) – 5.30.11 hrs
=3. Herve Taquet (FRA) – 5.30.11 hrs
5. Gavin Melgaard (AUS) – 7.05.18 hrs
6. John Kraus (USA) – 7.17.48 hrs
7. Mike Nixon (S AFRICA) – 7.32.20 hrs
=7. Jim Wood (USA) – 7.32.20 hrs
WOMEN’S MARATHON
1. Noelle Sheridan (USA) – 7.15.46 hrs
100 KM
1. Richard Donovan (IRL) – 12:55:06 hrs
2. Henri Alain D’Andria (FRA) – 13:25:10 hrs
3. Philippe Moreau (FRA) – 14:35:54 hrs
=3. Herve Taquet (FRA) – 14:35:54 hrs
5. Tim Harris (GBR) – 17.16:53 hrs
=5. Mike Pierce (USA) – 17.16.53 hrs
7. John Kraus (USA) – 22:31:10 hrs
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