FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2013 Antarctica Marathon Participants Endure
Expedition Delay, Icy Elements to Reach the Finish Line
Finishers Include a 14-year-old girl,
the Youngest to Finish a Marathon on Antarctica
BOSTON (April 5, 2013) - The Antarctica Marathon and its two-week
expedition is no stranger to a variety of daunting challenges doled out by
Mother Nature and the extreme aspects of getting to, and running on, the
coldest, windiest and most remote continent on Earth. The 14th edition of
the Antarctica Marathon and Half Marathon held March 30, 2013, was no
exception, according to Boston-based Marathon Tours & Travel, the event and
expedition organizer.
Ninety-two participants hailing from nine countries braved temperatures
hovering around 22 degrees Fahrenheit while navigating the hilly, snow and
ice-covered course. "The relentless hills, frozen streams and uneven,
slippery conditions made for a very challenging race," said Thom Gilligan,
the Antarctica Marathon race director and expedition leader.
The 26.2 - and 13.1-mile courses transverse mostly 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.
In the men's marathon competition, Alan Nawoj, 33, of Lexington, Mass.
commanded an early lead, extending it to about 10 minutes 20 miles into the
race. Nawoj, who has a personal best marathon time of 2:52:27, went on to
win in 3:29:56. Belthazer Nel of South Africa attempted to close the gap in
the last few miles but had to settle for second, finishing in 3:37:48.
Donnald Raymond of Portland, Ore. rounded out the podium and finished third
in 4:11:57.
The women's race was dominated by Inez Anne Haagen of the Netherlands who
was victorious in 3:41:52, finishing third overall. Haagen, 49, has also
won marathons on four other continents, including China's Great Wall
Marathon in 2010. Ginger Howell of Newton, Mass. received runner-up honors,
clocking 4:24:24. Five Russian and Uruguayan Antarctic research base
personnel also joined in on the competition.
One of the most impressive performances of the day came from the women's
division third-place finisher, 14-year-old Winter Vinecki of Salem, Ore.,
who became the youngest person to complete a marathon in Antarctica,
finishing in 4:49:45.Vinecki, who trains in Park City, Utah, is a former
two-time Ironkids national champion and the newest and youngest member of
the Fly Elite aerials team as a 2018 Olympic hopeful. In her very first
year in aerials competition she qualified for Junior Freestyle Skiing World
Championships in Valmalenco, Italy but was forced to pass on the invitation
to pursue her goal of running a marathon on all seven continents while
raising funds for prostate cancer in memory of her father, who died of the
disease four years ago.
Also impressive is the record 17 runners who wrapped up their goal of
running a marathon or half-marathon on all of Earth's seven continents and
were inducted into the Seven Continents Club during the post-race awards
ceremony held at an outdoor barbecue amidst a backdrop of incredible
scenery.
This year's Antarctica Marathon initially faced cancellation. Originally
scheduled for March 7, the event came close to being put on ice when the
Akademik Ioffe, the chartered Russian research vessel that was to
transport the runners from the southernmost tip of Argentina to King George
Island, was damaged by an iceberg. The Akademik Sergey Vavilov, the sister
ship to the Akademik Ioffe, was quickly commissioned; however, the incident
and ship change resulted in a three-week delay. More than 85% of the
original 114 travelers rearranged their lives to pursue their goal of
completing the marathon or half-marathon on the seventh continent.
More than $37,500 was raised by 2013 Antarctica Marathon participants for
the event's official charity, Oceanites, Inc., a non-profit organization
that researches the impact of tourism on Antarctica's pristine environment.
For more information on the Antarctica Marathon, please visit
www.antarcticamarathon.com, write to or call
+1(617) 242-7845.
Top Results
Antarctica Marathon
Men Women
1. Alan Nawoj 3:29:56 USA 1. Inez Anne Haagen 3:41:52 NED
2. Belthazer Nel 3:37:48 RSA 2. Ginger Howell 4:24:24 USA
3. Donnald Raymond 4:11:57 USA 3. Winter Vinecki 4:49:45 USA
Antarctica Half Marathon
Men Women
1. Sergei Mikhalchuk 2:01:20 RUS 1. Beth Hammett 1:58:46 CAN
2. John Kessel 2:17:11 USA 2. Susan Hawley 2:43:25 USA
3.Andreo Benech 2:21:22 URU 3. Laurie Rice 2:54:15 USA
About Marathon Tours & Travel
Marathon Tours & Travel is the leading marathon tour operator in North
America offering comprehensive travel packages to 28 marathons and half
marathons on all seven continents, including the Great Wall Marathon in
China and the Safaricom Marathon in Kenya, the only marathon run entirely
within a game park.
###
|
