N.J. runner takes top spot at Wine & Dine Half-Marathon for 4th year in a row
For the fourth straight year, New Jersey runner Megan Curham completed the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon as the first female finisher and the event’s only four-time champion.
Ian Bordelon of Orlando was the race’s overall winner, crossing the finish line amid a light drizzle in 1:13:42. Curham of Warren, New Jersey finished the 13.1-mile course at 1:20:16.
A year ago, Curham became the only woman in runDisney history to repeat as an overall half marathon winner and established a race record finishing time.
“It’s just so much fun,’’ Curham said. “I think what’s been really neat is that all four of those years the course has been a little bit different. So, it’s always something a little bit unique. You never really know what you’re going to get.’’
This time the new wrinkle was a light rain and slightly humid Florida conditions, which conspired to slow Curham’s pace. Her winning time was nowhere near her record-setting pace from last year when she was the overall winner with a time of 1:15:33. Still, she finished comfortably ahead of Stephanie Muscat of Grand Rapids, Michigan (1:27:50) and Katrina Wraga of Toms River, New Jersey (1:30:44).
The conditions created a challenge for Bordelon too, but not enough to keep him from leaving the field in his wake. After starting toward the back of his corral, he bolted to the lead after just about three miles. After that, he was essentially racing against himself more so than the other runners. Mike Sharkey of Broomfield, Colorado (1:18:51) came in second and Marcus Hershberger of Baltimore, Maryland (1:19:20) came in third.
Nicholas McCoy of Boerne, Texas (1:24:05) finished first in the wheelchair division followed by Julius McManus of Fort Washington, Florida (1:30:53).
The race was the final event of the race weekend, which included a 5K and a 10K, plus a health and fitness expo. In all, more than 30,000 runners took part in the four-day event.
Next up in the runDisney race season is the 30th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which is January 4-8, 2023.
