Tucson man is first American to win Disney marathon in 14 years

PHOENIX — A man from Tucson, Arizona had his dreams come true at Walt Disney World this weekend, but that had more to do with running than a magical cricket.

Nick Hilton, 28, became the first American to win the Orlando theme park’s annual marathon in 14 years on Sunday. He finished the 26.2-mile race in 2:17:52.

Slump busted. Won the 25th @runDisney WDW Marathon in an OTQ of 2:17:53. Feeling grateful to be able to break the tape and to have taken part in this wonderful event! pic.twitter.com/NCHL4RScJH

— Nicholas Hilton (@NackHilton) January 7, 2018

Though he won the race, Hilton still had more work to do. He had hoped to reach the “A” qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials, but missed the 2:15 cutoff by just a couple minutes.

Hilton was was running step-for-step with several others, including eventual runner-up Vanilson Neves through much of the race. When he saw his chance to make a move, he took it.

“Once I had a gap, I just started putting the gas on and opened it up as much as I could,” Hilton, a four-time All-American, told the Orlando Sentinel.

“The rhythm started picking up,” Neves, a Brazilian, told the paper through an interpreter. “I fell [off the pace] right at the 35-kilometer [almost 22-mile] mark.”

The winner of the last four Disney marathons, Brazilian Fredison Costa, dropped out of the race after becoming nauseated and dizzy near the 19-mile mark.

Hilton’s win came one year to the day after he proposed to his wife, Sarah, atop one of the park’s resorts.

Related

SAFE Alert issued for missing 85-year-old last seen in GlendaleCan Maricopa County change — or completely dump — third-party election vendors?Man arrested in Phoenix double-murder investigationVice President JD Vance accuses Arizona State, 8 other universities of visa abuseRain chances, cooler temps heading to metro Phoenix as Hurricane Rachel moves northMaricopa County official says recorder’s mail ballot claims reflect ‘pattern’ of failing to tell truth