Disney World Marathon Weekend 2011

The Disney Marathon winners were announced from Sunday’s race, and the emerging champ was a surprise. A Brazilian has dominated the men’s portion of the marathon for six years, but a new winner has emerged from that country.

Adriano Bastos has won the race for six years in a row, but this year fellow Brazilian Fredison Costa, 33, finished with a more than comfortable lead. He knocked out the defending champ by a margin of more than six minutes. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 15 seconds.

The United States finished with an impressive second place finish. Second place went to Michael Wardian of Arlington, Virginia with 2:27:39, and Orlando’s Paul Nielsen finished third with 2:31:44. In the Disney Marathon this year, Bastos only placed 15th with 2:45:09, which is still impressive, but after six years of winning, he probably needed to slow down.

According to The Orlando Sentinel, “The women’s race was won by Leah Thorvilson of Little Rock, Ark. A former qualifier in the U.S. Olympic Trials, she finished in 2:42:10 on her 33rd birthday.” So happy birthday wishes goes to Throvilson. So considering that the Disney Marathon was the standard 26.2 miles, to have two Americans in the top is quite an accomplishment.