Bastos Prevails in Dramatic Walt Disney World Marathon

Brazilian overcomes chilly weather and strong competition to claim sixth straight Disney victory and seventh overall; Mizutani claims back-to-back women’s titles; field of nearly 24,000 runners pushes record marathon weekend total to more than 55,500

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – (Jan. 10, 2010) – Adriano Bastos weathered the elements and a late-race challenge Sunday to snag his sixth consecutive Walt Disney World Marathon present by CIGNA and seventh overall. Likewise, Lisa Mizutani won the women’s title for the second straight year.

Unlike last year when Bastos, 31, led the 26.2 mile race virtually from start to finish, the colorful Brazilian battled temperatures in the low-30s and was pushed much of the race by several competitors, creating the tightest finish among Bastos’ seven victories at Disney. With about three miles to go, Bastos opened a small lead and crossed the finish line at 2:22:08 – 33 seconds ahead of fellow Brazlian Fredison Costa (2:22:41). Jay Lumpkins of Ocoee, Fla., was third (2:24:24).

“The real challenge wasn’t the cold weather, but it was the fact that I had someone challenging me for first place,’ said Bastos, whose goal is to win 10 straight Disney Marathons. “This is the first time that I felt that I had runners at the same level with me. I was scared. I thought my streak might be broken.’

Mizutani, 24, of Japan won just as easily as she did a year ago, this time crossing the finish line in 2:51:20 – more than five minutes ahead of Christa Benton of St. Petersburg, Fla (2:56:43).

Matthew Dobson of Jay, Fla., was the top men’s Masters Division finisher (runners age 40 and over) with a time of 2:38:15 and Terri Rejimbal won the women’s Masters Division with 3:14:26. In the wheelchair division, Krige Schabort of Cedartown, Ga. (1:42:35) and Shirley Reilly of Tucson, Ariz. (2:22:30), both won the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively, for the second straight year.

The Disney Marathon capped a weekend of endurance events at Disney, including the Disney Half Marathon, the Disney-Pixar Up and Away Family Fun Run 5K, Disney’s Kids Races and a Health & Fitness Expo. In all, more than 55,000 runners registered for events throughout the weekend, making this the largest Disney Marathon Weekend since the event’s debut in 1994.

Registration for the 2010 Disney Marathon Weekend (Jan. 6-9, 2011) begins Monday Jan. 11, 2010. To register for the marathon or for any Disney endurance race, visit www.disneyworldmarathon.com or www.disneyenduranceseries.com

Johnson, Mortensen Blaze to Chilly Walt Disney World Half Marathon Victory

Johnson notches second Disney half marathon title; Johnson and Mortensen members of elite Hanson’s Brooks Distance Project Running Club of Rochester, Mich.; field of nearly 23,000 runners contribute to record Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – (Jan. 9, 2010) – Michigan runners Chad Johnson and Emily Mortensen weathered near freezing temperatures Saturday to take home the men’s and women’s Walt Disney World Half Marathon division titles.

Braving freezing rain and temperatures in the low-30s, Johnson won for the second time after streaking to the finish at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon presented by CIGNA in 2008. Johnson, 33, who trained for the Disney event by running at times in snowy conditions in Rochester Hills, Mich., battled fellow Hanson’s Brooks Distance Project Running Club member Sage Canaday for nearly 10 miles before pulling away and finishing at 1:07:02 – 18 seconds ahead of Canaday. Luis Rivera from Puerto Rico was third at 1:08:55.

After the race, Johnson said he and some of his Hanson’s Brooks running club teammates were going to celebrate by going to the Magic Kingdom.

Mortensen, 27, took the women’s title with a time of 1:20:58, finishing just ahead of Jen Blue (1:21:37) and Elizabeth Foster (1:21:52).

Jon Williams, 41, of Miami won the Masters division (ages 40 and up) with a time of 1:18:09. Ramilya Burangulov, 48, from Gainesville, Fla. ran away with the women’s Masters race with a time of 1:22:22.

In the Wheelchair division, Germantown, Tenn. resident John Payne won for the second straight year, this time crossing the finish line at 1:40:26.

Despite the unseasonably cold Florida weather, the field featured nearly 23,000 runners who covered the 13.1-mile course while being entertained with fireworks, music and appearances by several Disney characters.

Combined with the Disney Marathon on Jan. 10, more than 55,000 people are expected to take part in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA – the most since the event began in 1994. The weekend also includes the Disney-Pixar Up and Away Family Fun Run 5K, Disney’s Kids Races and a Health and Fitness Expo.

Registration for the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend begins Monday Jan. 11. To register or for more information visit www.disneyworldmarathon.com. The 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is Jan. 6-9, 2011.