LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — On the last day of the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, runners raced to the finish line with a cool and comfortable morning.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
At 5 a.m., runners from all around the world laced up their shoes for the signature runDisney event.
The marathon on Sunday started and ended at EPCOT and took runners through all four Disney parks.
According to a release, 59 runners who participated in every Walt Disney World Marathon were present Sunday.
Read: 9 things to know about the Walt Disney World Marathon
Over 100,000 spectators and participants were part of the four-day event.
This endurance event was special for 2023 because it was the 30th anniversary, with the first race in 1994.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XYCNNGNUYVHA3HRSJ7D4NMYSMM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FQDXOKCWC5ARFGW67G2CQSGKGE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/W6M6RDTZLBDJTLID3F7T45O3LY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/AHLYLPPQEJAYHB4XBH2M55L6LQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/NIYCX5JWFFD7VHC6GGOOEPXVLQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WFH5DIWB2FHPXOD6LHBMVBQYUA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QTHER6PTSBGF3OZX5P5CH6RJDQ.PNG)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YBNOZCFSDVG5ZDJ2A5XJOTUZCI.PNG)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/KTS2IA56TBC25NLMML5TG4HETA.PNG)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/36DBOE7LMNBZ5FNZOZZVQWKET4.PNG)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4FZBK63DURCOJAKKYVKIUVRG5Y.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/R7MO4GXOIBCOPAHKAUGLODWJ34.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QJNRPZDZCBFQRFNEJK3CIEJA4A.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MUNAEVE25BBJ5HKH6GUDIRFXTE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/6NEP5XJGQJDHBBCVFL6KPSMT3A.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SDQXDGNZJFFHRNJUFENIKMLW3U.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2NTIVFO4NVDIVAOQXC5G7W6J3Y.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XPECAL3AI5DNHMXFHPH7DOAQHQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MH22G4DLNZD7FIOT4JR6O6PNEE.png)
Read: Runners lace up early Friday for Walt Disney World 10K
The theme was “retro vibes” and honored the 90s spirit with themed merchandise, entertainment, medals and characters on the course.
Sunday’s race marks the first Walt Disney World Marathon win for male finisher Daniel Dos Santos.
He said he was proud to take the victory to his home country of Brazil.
Read: Get a mouthwatering early look at this year’s Festival of the Arts at EPCOT
Female finisher Catherine Cardillo came in first place with a time of three hours and 13 minutes.
The New York native said she loves to run professionally, but the Disney marathon is one of her favorites.
“It is such a cool experience, and it’s mainly the crowd,” Cardillo said. “They’re electric.”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4VJNSFIQ4BCZZPVWJJWNICWHPM.png)
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/GRZGPKEIUVHVFAVEGSOJSRA6JQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VR3AT26J4NFCNM5OQP5A44M3OI.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/GA37OK4AEFED7JLU5V5MFGYPWU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/RUARMGC6F6KCGGXXIQZ6R4D6S4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FL25XJI7TBAUTPVUZLA3CSVQMQ.jpeg)