Canadian wins Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday
Canadian Natasha Yaremczuk, 35, won the Walt Disney World women's marathon on Sunday while a Brazilian won his third straight men's race.
Congratulations Natasha Yaremczuk, the female champion of the 2016 Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna! pic.twitter.com/szaV0KfxjR
— Track Shack (@trackshack) January 10, 2016
Considered “the most magical race on earth,” the Walt Disney World Marathon wrapped up race weekend on Sunday.
Canadian and Montverde, Fla. resident Natasha Yaremczuk won the women’s race in 2:52:21, more than nine minutes clear of the field. Yaremczuk is a native of Paris, Ont.
The 35-year-old is a former triathlete turned runner, having made the Canadian national team (as Natasha Filliol) in the three-sport discipline for the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
On the men’s side, a pair of Brazilians took the top two spots with Fredison Costa winning the Walt Disney World Marathon for the third consecutive year, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Costa finished in 2:33:22 and has won the race five of the previous six years.
RELATED: Brazilian runner one win away from four-peat at Walt Disney races.
Entering Sunday’s marathon, Joao Marcelo Avelar had the chance for a four-peat after winning the first three races of the Walt Disney World Marathon race weekend.
RELATED: New Balance releases Disney-themed running shoes.
Avelar ended up finishing 12th in Sunday’s marathon running 2:51:20 (2:51:15 net). Avelar had raced, and won, the 5K, 10K and half-marathon on consecutive days beginning on Thursday.
Completing all four Walt Disney Marathon race weekend events is known as the Dopey Challenge.
Stacy Chesnutt, race director for Sole Sisters Women’s Race, told Canadian Running that the half-marathon experience on Saturday was the best race atmosphere she has experienced in 28 years.
RELATED: Disney issues new dress code rules for costumed marathon runners.
There for the Race Directors Series, Stacy and her husband Tim were the only Canadian race directors in attendance.
“I had the great pleasure of running with my all-time biggest sporting hero for just over a mile of the race today,” said Stacy, who finished second in the race director category. “I got to run with Paula Radcliffe who finished far ahead of me but was just participating. Talk about a dream come true.”
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
