For the second straight year, Brazilian runner Fredison Costa won the Walt Disney World Marathon that took place on Sunday, Jan. 8 2012 at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Mickey marathon, as it is known, took runners through Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Costa, 34, completed the 26.2 miles in 2:19:01, just ahead of favored Adriano Basto, also from Brazil and a seven-time winner of the Disney race. Basto, 33, finished 14 seconds behind Costa in 2:19:15. Costa finished the marathon about two minutes fast than when he won the Disney marathon in 2011.
Mike Hensely, 24, of Port St. Lucie, Fla. placed third in the men’s division with 2:23:11
Costa’s and Basto’s times reflect the tight race the two ran throughout most of the course. It wasn’t until the events last couple of miles that Costa gained just enough time to win.
“I think a victory is a victory and they are always very special,” Costa said through an interpreter. “But I think this was such a difficult time overcoming some things for me. I’ve been through so many things that this race was very, very special to me.”
In the women’s race division, Renee High of Virginia Beach, VA, won with a finish time of 2:48:33. The 30-year-old is scheduled to run the U.S. Olympic Trials in Houston next week.
See Costa's and High's finish-line photos at the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon.
Boston’s Emily Krohus, 28, finished in second at 2:53:11 with 27-year-old Christina Stephens of St. Petersburg, Fla. took third with 2:55:10.
In the men’s Masters Division (runners age 40 and over), 40-year-old Douglas Morton of Sebring, Fla. took first with 2:35:52.
In the women’s Masters Division, Tampa’s Terri Rejimabal, 43, won with 3:09:33.
In the wheelchair division (push rim), Krige Schabort of Cedartown, Ga. who finished in 1:46:16 and won for the fourth straight year. Both push-rim and crank wheelchair athletes participate in Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events.
The 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon attracted a field of more than 16,500 participants. The marathon is the last event of a race weekend filled with anniversary dates. The 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend included the inaugural Chip and Dale, a two-person relay option for the marathon, and the 15th anniversary of the Donald, Saturday’s Walt Disney World Half Marathon.
See results for the 2012 Walt Disney World Half Marathon.
Overall, the 2012 weekend saw runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes from all 50 states and 60 other countries, with a record 56,000 registered athletes signing up for its various events.
See the full, searchable 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend results from Active.com.
Other weekend vents include kids’ events, a family 5K, and a Health & Fitness Expo.
Registration for the 2013 Disney Marathon Weekend, with the 20th anniversary of the Disney marathon, opens this spring. Visit runDisney for more information on the race weekend or for other Disney running events.
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