Maunsell, Paulson win Antarctica leg of Great World Race

Irishman William Maunsell and American Ashley Paulson won the men's and women's events at the Great World Race in Antarctica on Thursday, setting the fastest marathon times recorded in the southernmost continent.

Maunsell battled freezing conditions to cross the finish line in two hours, 38 minutes and 42 seconds, shattering the previous record of two hours, 53 minutes and 33 seconds.

"A bit tough at the start for about 2k but there's a big back section and it's slightly downhill and the wind was behind you and you can really make time on that part. Nothing really tough, it's lovely," Maunsell said.

Paulson won the women's race in Wolf's Fang in three hours, 18 minutes and two seconds, smashing the old record by nearly 30 minutes.

"This challenge has been like something that I always was like, ever since I was little I was like 'how cool would it be to run around the world' and there's an actual event that does this, that takes us around the world," Paulson said.

"This is literally a dream come true."

The Great World Race, which has 54 competitors from 15 countries aiming to complete in seven marathons on seven continents in one week, continues in Cape Town, South Africa.

Antarctica hosted the opening race, with Perth, Istanbul and Miami among the other venues.

"The Great World Race is difficult in that there's a huge amount of travel on top of all the marathons. While the distance of running a marathon each day is extremely difficult, the lack of sleep, obviously, getting the schedule going, does make it considerably harder," race director David Kelly said.

"But like any adventure you have to go through a little bit of misery to come out the other side with all the accolades."