New Jersey Runner Triumphs at Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – Again!

Filed in: Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2022) – New Jersey runner Megan Curham has made history once again at the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend and shows no signs of stopping.

For the fourth straight year, Curham, of Warren, New Jersey, easily completed the 13.1-mile course as the first female finisher with a time of 1:20:16, becoming 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.

It was just the latest milestone among Curham’s exploits at this race. A year ago, she 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.

“I was out there trying to run as fast as possible,’’ said Bordelon, whose wife was also in the race at 16 weeks pregnant. “Even when I saw that I had a pretty decent cushion, I was still pushing, trying to run as fast as I could today and racing (against) the clock.’’

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.

Curham, though, couldn’t help but look further ahead to next year’s Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon where she could go for five in a row.

“I would love to come back. I love this (race) so much,’’ she said. “I mean, I just love coming to Disney too. It’s like a great excuse to go on vacation as well, so you really can’t beat it.’’

For more information on runDisney races, visit www.rundisney.com. For news releases, photos and video of runDisney races, visit www.disneysportsnews.com.