Continuing Brazil’s utter dominance of this race, Fredison Costa, 37, won the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Fla., Sun., Jan. 11, as he ran 2:18:06 to lead a Brazilian sweep of the top four places.

In winning by a sizeable margin of four minutes, 33 seconds, Costa also notched his fourth victory in this race in the last five years – and it was the 12^th year in a row a Brazilian had won! Apparently the Brazilians love Disney World.

Trinidad Mateus, 30, was second on Sunday, running 2:22:39, Joao Fonseco, 35, finished third in 2:23:10, and Adriano Bastos, 36, came in fourth in 2:25:54.

However, Mr. Bastos has done much better than fourth place in this race in the past. In fact, he has won it eight times! And when you combine his eight victories and Costa’s four, there is your Brazilian 12-year winning streak in this huge event – there were 45,524 finishers this year – which runs through all four Walt Disney Theme Parks in Orlando.

The first American finisher in the men’s race on Sunday was Masters runner Ronnie Holassie, 43, of Miramar, Fl., who ran an outstanding time for his age – 2:32:44.

A Brazilian also won the women’s race – surprise! surprise! -- as Giovana Martins, 32, ran 2:50:20 to win by almost four minutes.

Masters runners occuppied the next two spots as Heather Hunt, 40, of Sumter, S.C., ran 2:54:19 and Heather Schulz, also 40, from Orlando ran 2:54:41.

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