Brazilian runner wins Disney World Marathon for third straight year

Brazilian runner Fredison Costa won his third straight Walt Disney World Marathon, according to runDisney.

Disney publicity photo Fredison Costa, 38, raises his hand in celebration on Jan. 10 after winning his  third consecutive Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna and his  fifth in the last six years.

“I am very happy to win here at Disney today and defend my title. I love the people and I love Disney,’’ Fredison said in a new release. “My dream now is to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the upcoming London Marathon and run in this year’s Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.”

Natasha Yaremczuk, 35, of Montverde, Florida, was the first female finisher with a time of 2:52:23. It was Yaremczuk’s first victory at the Walt Disney World Marathon after running various runDisney events in the past.

©Disney publicity photo Natasha Yaremczuk, 35, won the women’s division of 2016 Walt Disney  World Marathon presented by Cigna with a time of 2:52:23.

“I have raced Disney in the past and always loved it,’’ Yaremczuk said. “Today, I found myself taking more water breaks than ever before due to the humidity.”

More than 100,000 runners and spectators took part in the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend. More than 7,500 runners ran in all four weekend events – the 5K, the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon, completing the popular “Dopey Challenge’’ (48.6 miles).

Marcelo Avelar from from Sao Paulo, Brazil, won the the 5K race on Jan. 7, the 10K on Jan. 8 and the Half Marathon on Jan. 9.

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is the first race in the 2016 runDisney series, which includes eight weekend events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, plus the inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend.

The next race is the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland on Jan. 14-17, 2016.