ANTARCTICA MARATHON – 10 MARCH 2014:

The 15th Antarctica Marathon attracted 187 runners from 22 countries; one of them was the first totally blind runner to finish the event writes Patrice Malloy. Thirteen temporarily resident base personnel representing Chile and China joined the field.

Blind since birth, south African adventurer Hein Wagner had to recruit a fellow entrant, Nic Kruiskamp as a late substitute to guide him during the race. Kruiskamp was tethered to Wagner by a short stick and gave him constant voice instructions to help Wagner navigate the muddy, brutally hilly course.

The two men, who met for the first time less than a week prior, finished the gruelling event in under six hours. "I do not recommend anyone running this course with their eyes closed," said Wagner "I had to have full concentration so to not fall and injure myself."

The Marathon and Half-Marathon courses use rudimentary gravel roads that connect the research bases of Uruguay, Chile, China and Russia on King George Island, located at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Race day temperatures were around 2°C with sleet, intermittent rain and 40km/hour winds.

The event was held in two stages on 9 and 10 March to observe environmental restrictions of a maximum 100 visitors on shore in any single landing area.

Bartosz Mazerski of Poland went to the front early and opened an insurmountable lead to cruise home to victory. Women's winner Stephanie White of New Zealand placed ninth overall.

Twenty runners completed their goal of finishing marathons or half-marathons on all of the Earth's seven continents and were inducted into the Seven Continents Club.

AIMSworldrunning.org

 
MEN:
1  Bartosz MAZERSKI               POL  3:17:55
2  Michael DUFFY                     USA  3:34:50
3  Nathaniel ORDERS               USA  3:36:09
4  Aitor ELUSTONDO                ESP  3:44:06
5  Alexander SCHERZ               SUI  3:56:29
6  Robert MARSHALL                USA  4:00:06
7  John SHEWAN                      NZL  4:16:28
8  Michael YASINSKI                 CAN  4:17:47
9  Fred TASSINARI                   CAN  4:30:43
10 Jan KAWA                           POL  4:33:43

WOMEN:
1  Stephanie WHITE                  NZL  4:23:03
2  Victoria TOOGOOD               AUS  4:48:40
3  Suzy DROLET                       CAN  4:54:04
4  Kelly PARRISH                       USA  4:54:29
5  Holly BOHENSKY                    USA  4:58:57
6  Tracie WINTERS                    USA  5:03:51
7  Sophia Le SHI                       USA  5:09:25
8  Kathleen HOLMES                 USA  5:20:18
9  Retha JANSE VAN BERG        RSA  5:24:38
10 Amanda GODDARD              USA  5:30:24

HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1  Juan BALTIERRA                  CHI  1:57:17
2  Ricardo SANCHEZ                CHI  2:08:26
3  Claudio MUNOZ                   CHI  2:11:53

WOMEN:
1  Kathryn EMICK                     USA  2:21:52
2  Mindy MONTANO                  USA  2:39:43
3  Christine CHA                       USA  2:52:31