Neves wins 2025 Disney World marathon for third time in four years

Brazilian runner Vanilson Neves continued his reign at the Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday, securing his third victory in four years. Neves led from the front, pulling away from a field of over 15,000 runners who braved the cool temperatures.

The course, which snaked through Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and concluded at EPCOT, proved no obstacle for Neves. He crossed the finish line in a commanding 2:27:17, nearly five minutes ahead of second-place finisher Johnny Binzak of Chicago (2:32:00) and third-place finisher Thiago Bianchini from Woodstock, Georgia (2:34:48). 

“I prepared hard for this race,’’ Neves said through an interpreter. “So, this victory is something I really wanted.’’ 

Brazilian runners have dominated the marathon notching 18 wins in the last 20 Disney marathons. The course was altered this year through Magic Kingdom as construction around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is taking place.

Marielle Despres, who had only run one marathon before the Sunday race, won in the women’s division.

“I’m really, really happy to (win) because it’s really, really amazing,’’ Despres said. 

A native of France who recently moved to the Orlando area, Depres posted a time of 3:02:09. Anne Kay Combs of Sterling, Virginia was second (3:03:41) followed by Chelsea Ellis of Greenwich, Connecticut (3:05:22). 

Brian Siemann of Savoy, Illinois easily won the wheelchair division (1:56:00), finishing well ahead of second-place finisher Zachary Stinson of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (2:32:51). And Linden Williamson of Seguin, Texas was the first woman wheelchair finisher (2:11:32) followed by Heather Sealover of Clermont, Florida (2:28:22). 

Robert Kozarek of Savoy, Illinois won the men hand cycle wheelchair division (1:45:25) followed by Don Gworek of Orlando, Florida (2:16:06). And Bonnie Eng of WoodHaven, New York was the first woman handcyle wheelchair finisher (2:54:35) followed by Kristin Hicks of Davenport, Florida (3:09:36).

In the Duo Division,  which is comprised of a runner pushing a non-ambulatory person with a permanent physical impairment in a customized racing wheelchair, Jose Zadrozny from Kissimmee, Florida crossed the finish line at 3:04:55.

It was the culminating day of a four-day race weekend that featured a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon and the marathon, plus a health and fitness expo. It will be a similar scene at Disneyland Resort for the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 2) and at Walt Disney World for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Feb. 20-24) and the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend (April 3-6) where limited race registrations remain. 

Here are the winners and top runners in all the races:

Half Marathon

Men Division

1. Caleb Belmont, Belleair, Florida, 1:15:18
2. Edward Haponik, Cornelius, North Carolina, 1:15:37
3. Jackson Mayorgas, Murrieta, Californis, 1:16:06

Women Division

1. Kelsi Chappell, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 1:21:49
2. Alissa Kolarik, Wadsworth, Ohio, 1:28:50
3. Heather Schulz, Orlando, Florida, 1:29:57

Men Wheelchair Push Rim Division

1. Brian Siemann, Savoy, Illinois, 1:01:13
2. Zachary Stinson, Chambersburg, 1:10:57
3. Julius McManus, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 1:27:13

Women Wheelchair Push Rim Division

1. Heather Sealover, Clerment, Florida, 1:06:51
2. Corey Petersen, Glendale, Arizona, 1:38:11
3. Bethany Evans, Ruslip, United Kingdom, 1:44:36

Men Hand Cycle Wheelchair Division

1. Robert Kozarek, Kissimmee, Florida, 45:27
2. Michael Malone, San Jose, California, 56:59
3. Michael Sprouse, Groveland, Florida, 59:50

Women Hand Cyle Wheelchair Division

1. Jessica Hayon, New York, New York, 1:12:03
2. Bonnie Eng, Woodhaven, New York, 1:18:50
3. Kristin Hicks, Davenport, Florida, 1:20:58

Duo Division

1. Brent Pease, Atlanta, Georgia, 1:39:12
2. Kyle Pease, Atlanta Georgia, 1:56:48

10K

Men Division

1. Jon Napoli, Erie, Colorado, 35:26
2. Joel Thompson, Durham, United Kingdom, 36:19
3. Antonino Olefs, Chenee Belgium, 36:26

Women Division

1. Andrea Cantarell, Lake Orion, Michigan, 39:48
2. Rachel Banton, Oceanside, California, 40:28
3. Stefanie Shimansky, Winter Springs, Florida, 41:46

Men Wheelchair Push Rim Division

1. Brian Siemann, Savoy, Illinois, 29:29
2. Zachary Stinson, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, 34:43
3. Dan Broniewski, Winter Garden, Florida 1:32:31

Women Wheelchair Push Rim Division

1. Heather Sealer, Cleremont, Florida, 35:47
2. Corey Peterson, Glendale, Arizona, 44:51
3. Bethany Evans, Ruislip, United Kingdom, 46:21

You can get a closer look at the results here.