Sports · Running & Athletics · 2 hrs ago
Stephanie Case becomes first woman to run 100 miles in Antarctica
Canadian ultrarunner Stephanie Case became the first woman to finish the Antarctic Ice Ultra’s 100-mile race on Sunday in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica.
The 44-year-old completed the distance in 17 hours, 31 minutes and 39 seconds, running repeated loops on snow and ice around a base camp.
China’s Yusheng Ni won in 17:02:24, with Case finishing second overall among 28 competitors.
The race began in 2024, and no woman had completed its 100-mile distance before Case.
Organizers moved the start to 1 a.m.
because a storm was approaching, and competitors were flown to Cape Town after finishing.
Case used the challenge to raise money and awareness for Free to Run, the charity she founded to support women and girls in conflict-affected communities.
She has said she hopes her achievement shows women, including mothers, they can keep pursuing ambitious goals.
Stephanie Case became the first woman to complete the 100-mile Antarctic Ice Ultra, finishing in 17:31:39 on Sunday.
The 44-year-old Canadian placed second overall, behind China’s Yusheng Ni, who finished in 17:02:24.
The race took place in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica, on a 4.2-kilometre loop that runners completed 38 times, plus another 300 metres.
Organizers moved the start to 1 a.m. because of an approaching storm.
Case used the challenge to raise money and awareness for Free to Run, a charity she founded to support women and girls in conflict-affected communities.
- Who
- Stephanie Case, a 44-year-old Canadian ultrarunner.
- What
- She became the first woman to complete the Antarctic Ice Ultra’s 100-mile race, finishing in 17:31:39 and placing second overall.
- When
- Sunday. The article was published on Nov. 9, 2026.
- Where
- Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Antarctic Ice Ultra held its inaugural race.
Yusheng Ni set the previous event record of 22:40:47.
Case completed the 100-mile race in 17:31:39, becoming the first woman to finish the distance in Antarctica.
Case spoke to CBC News about the race.
- Case’s time
- 17:31:39
- Overall place
- Second
- Race winner
- Yusheng Ni of China, in 17:02:24
- Course loop
- 4.2 kilometres, completed 38 times plus another 300 metres
- Race location
- Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica
- Charity
- Free to Run
3 sources
What people are saying
I knew roughly what I would be facing, but I had never experienced an environment as extreme as that before
It feels pretty amazing to put women on the map there, especially in a place that used to be called the womanless continent.
I hope it shows women—and moms in particular—out there that we can keep striving for big things after having kids.
an extraordinary display of speed, strength and endurance in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.