Stephanie Case Becomes First Woman to Run Antarctic 100
Canadian ultrarunner finished second overall in the Antarctic Ice Ultra, a 100-mile race in Queen Maud Land.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Running
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Stephanie Case finished second overall out of 28 runners in the Antarctic Ice Ultra, completing the 100-mile race in 17:31:39. She became the first woman to run 100 miles in Antarctica.
Why it matters
The race was held on a loop course around a basecamp for safety, and it started at 1 a.m. because of incoming storms. The result marks a first for women in the continent's ultra-distance racing.
Case covered 38 loops of a 4.2-kilometre course plus 300 metres to complete 100 miles. She finished 17:31:39 in second place, roughly 29 minutes behind winner Yusheng Ni of China.
The players
Stephanie Case
A 44-year-old ultrarunner based in Chamonix, France, originally from Kingston, Ontario, who also won Ultra-Trail Snowdonia in 2025.
Yusheng Ni
A Chinese ultrarunner who won the Antarctic Ice Ultra 100-mile race in 17:02:24.
The details
Case stopped after eight loops in the first round because her balaclava had iced up. The race is run on a loop course around a basecamp, which allows runners to remain close to support in the harsh conditions.
Timeline
May 2025: Case won Ultra-Trail Snowdonia in Wales in 16:53:22.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Case finished second in the Antarctic Ice Ultra.
February 2027: Case's next event, the 472-kilometre Arctic Spine in northern Sweden.
Season Trajectory
Case's Antarctic result follows her May 2025 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia victory, extending a run of elite ultra finishes into conditions far harsher than the Welsh mountains. Her performance sets up the Arctic Spine in February 2027, a 472-kilometre trail race in Sweden.
Case's second-place result and her first-ever women's 100-mile finish in Antarctica add to her résumé ahead of the Arctic Spine. Her performance in Antarctica shows the level of cold-weather endurance required for the February race.
The takeaway
Case's record shows that extreme-environment ultras reward careful logistics, such as a closed loop near basecamp, as much as raw endurance. Runners planning similar events should weigh support access against course length.
What happens next
Case's next event is the Arctic Spine, a 472-kilometre trail race in northern Sweden scheduled for February 2027.
Further reading
For more on ultra-distance competition, see our Running coverage.
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