by Perri Williams
William Maunsell (Clonmel AC) has just broken the Antarctica Marathon World Record. The Antarctica Marathon held at Wolf’s Fang is the first race of seven in the Great World Race series. Participants will run seven races on seven continents, with the first one being held in Antarctica itself. Today Maunsell recorded a time of 2:38.42 to win the race. The previous record was held by his fellow Clonmel AC clubmate Sean Tobin. Sixty participants are scheduled to compete in the Great World Race series with four of them being from Ireland; William Maunsell, Ger Prendergast, Patrick O’Toole and Fergal Mullen.
Maunsell recently finished third in the National Marathon in Dublin in a new personal best. For most one marathon is more than enough for Maunsell he signed up for the Great World Race series where seven more were scheduled just over two weeks after he ran Dublin.
The race was held in great weather conditions (for Antarctica that is) with a balmy minus 16 degrees registering on the temperature gauge and a mild breeze. Maunsell led the race from start to finish passing through the halfway point in a time of 78:27 over six minutes ahead of David Kilgore (USA). In third place at this halfway stage was another Irishman Ger Prendergast with a time of 98:08.
It was Kilgore who ultimately finished second to Maunsell recording some 12 minutes slower than the Clonmel man. Prendergast finished third in a time of 3;19:40.
There was another world record recorded later as Ashley Paulson (USA) was the first lady home recording a time of 3.18:02 breaking the old Antarctica record of 3.47.41 hrs. Other Irish finishers were; Fergal Mullen 12th in a time of 4.13:30, Patrick O’Toole 13th in 4.18:00.
Maunsell recently finished third in the National Marathon in Dublin in a new personal best. For most one marathon is more than enough for Maunsell he takes on the tough task for doing another seven a few weeks later.
Cape Town, South Africa is the next venue which will see the athletes lining up this Saturday 16th November. The full schedule is below.
• November 15th: Wolf's Fang: Antarctica
• November 16th: Cape Town: Africa
• November 17th: Perth: Australia
• November 18th: Istanbul: Asia
• November 19th: Istanbul: Europe
• November 20th: Cartagena: South America
• November 21st: Miami: North America
Stay tuned for daily updates on this adventure.