Tipperary athlete smashes world record during phenomenal marathon challenge

Clonmel AC athlete William Maunsell produced a remarkable feat of strength and endurance in the last couple of weeks by winning five marathons in five consecutive days on five different continents.

Fresh from his Tipperary record run and national bronze performance in the Dublin City Marathon at the end of October, his amazing run started on the best possible note when he set a world record for the fastest marathon on Antarctica when winning the race in exceptionally difficult running conditions in 2:38:42.

Ironically, he took the record from his coach and Clonmel AC coach, Sean Tobin.

A day later it was onto Cape Town in South Africa, and after he lapped the entire field he won the race in a time of 2:34:03. He won the third leg of the Great World Race series a day later in Perth, Australia in a time of 2:36:45.

He made it four wins from four marathons 24 hours later in the Asian leg in Istanbul, crossing the line in a time of 2:43:39. The European leg of the race was also held in Istanbul, and here he was successful in a time of 2:43.

That was where his great achievement ended. With temperatures of upwards of 45 degrees, he didn’t compete in the sixth leg in Cartagena, Colombia, but by then he had already written himself into the record books.

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Well done William.