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2006 Walt Disney World Marathon

Brazilian Bastos Wins 13th Annual Walt Disney World Marathon

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2006) -- Brazilian Adriano Bastos led start to finish Sunday en route to his third victory in the 13th annual Walt Disney World Marathon. Bastos, 27, of Sao Paulo posted a time of 2:19:44 to lead the field of more than 10,000 participants in the full marathon.

Bastos's time was the 22nd-fastest Disney time ever, and his victory margin was more than 11 minutes over Tim Keller, 24, of Park Rapids, Minn., who finished second with 2:31:36.

This is the sixth time a Brazilian has dominated the race and Bastos is the first three-time winner. Of the 25 best times in the history of the race, the only three posted since 1995 belong to Bastos -- in 2003 (2:18:33, 15th best), in 2005 (2:19:16, 18th best) and 2006.

Paige Higgins, 23, of Littleton, Colo. was the women's full marathon champion with a time of 2:51:38. This Walt Disney World Marathon is the first marathon ever run by Higgins, a graduate of Kansas University. The women's second place finisher was Amy Shertzer, 28, of Monument, Colo., with a time of 2:59:14. Shertzer, a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a native of Winter Park, Fla., was the 2005 women's marathon winner.

Michael Mollod, 41, of Sarasota, Fla., earned a notable Master's Division (age 40+) win in the full marathon with a time of 2:42:54 and a tenth place overall ranking.

Lynn Leonard, 40, of Ocala, Fla. was the top women's marathon Masters finisher at 3:04:23. In the full marathon wheelchair division, Renzo Martinez, 41, of Boca Raton, Fla. and Kristen Messer of Austin, Texas, finished first among men and women, respectively.

First-time marathoners, veteran runners and celebrities enjoyed the 13th annual trek through the four Walt Disney World theme parks. "This is the greatest marathon I've ever seen," said Kyle Petty, NASCAR driver and son of the legendary stock car driver Richard Petty. Kyle Petty was running the marathon to benefit his family's Victory Junction Gang charity.

The Walt Disney World Half Marathon was held separately from the Walt Disney World Marathon for the first time this year. On Jan. 7, Michigan runners Josh Eberly and Melissa White weathered cool conditions and a record field to win the men's and women's divisions of the half marathon. Eberly, 25, of Rochester, Mich., ran the 13.1-mile course in a time of 1:08:12 to lead a throng of more than 12,000 participants, the largest field in the history of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. White, 24, cruised to the finish line in 1:18:34.

Eberly and White are members of the same Hanson's Brooks Distance Project running club in Rochester, which dominated the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Hanson's Brooks runners Josh Moen and Jeff Gaudette finished second and third, respectively, among the men's division, and their running club teammate Dorothy McMahan finished second in the women's division.

Bob Winn of Ogunquit, Maine took the men's title in the half marathon Masters division, while Mandi Kowal of Iowa City, Iowa was the top women's half marathon Masters finisher at 1:31:43. In the half marathon wheelchair division, Steven Kruger of Atlanta, Ga., and Kristen Messer of Austin, Texas, finished first among men and women, respectively.

A record 31,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes registered for the 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon. Both events are among the 10 largest fields at their distance in the U.S.

For the first time in the event's history, the marathon weekend included a Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge for participants who competed in both races and the overall 39.3 miles across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. The runners who accomplished this impressive physical challenge received a special Goofy Medal in addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals, which are awarded to half marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.

The 2007 event will again consist of a split-day format with the Walt Disney World Half Marathon scheduled for Jan. 6, 2007 and the Walt Disney World Marathon on Jan. 7, 2007. Registration for both races opens on January 9, 2006.